Omara Atubo signs pact with NRM
LANDS minister Daniel Omara Atubo, who is also the Otuke County MP, on Friday signed a pact with the NRM to support all its programmes.
By Steven Candia
LANDS minister Daniel Omara Atubo, who is also the Otuke County MP, on Friday signed a pact with the NRM to support all its programmes.
By signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU), Atubo, an Independent, undertook to support government policies both within and outside parliament.
He will also attend all NRM caucus meetings but remain an independent MP. In inking the pact on Friday, Atubo became the 17th Independent out of 36 to sign such a deal.
The move by the 17 is likely to swell NRM and government support in parliament especially when it comes to voting on crucial issues.
The pact was signed by Atubo and NRM Secretary General Amama Mbabazi at the NRM offices on Kyadondo road in Kampala.
On hand to witness the brief ceremony in which Atubo and Mbabazi used the same pen was Deputy NRM Secretary General Dorothy Hyuha and Atubo’s political assistant Kenneth Olelo. They too signed the documents.
Mbabazi gave Atubo the NRM constitution and manifesto and lauded the ceremony as symbolic before narrating a common history that he and Atubo enjoyed since the 70’s. He described himself and Atubo as progressive political activists.
“I am glad that at long last we have found each other once again,†Mbabazi said.
Atubo once served as state minister for foreign affairs and defence in the NRM.
Atubo praised the pact but stressed that he was still an Independent. He said despite his run-ins with the NRM, he still found it easy to work with it.
“It’s true that at one time I was hurt and bitter. But given my religious background, I cannot habour such bitterness forever. I forgave them (NRM) long ago,†Atubo said.
The purpose of the MoU, Mbabazi said, was a framework under which the Movement and Atubo shall cooperate in matters inside and outside parliament.
“He will support all government positions and policies and the NRM will give him full rights and privileges of a member but I must emphasise that he will remain an independent MP as defined by the Constitution,†Mbabazi said.
Atubo fell out with Uganda Peoples Congress early this year following alleged plans to rig him out in the party primaries. He contested for the Otuke seat on an independent ticket and trounced his opponents.
He becomes the first Independent from the opposition to sign such a pact.
Hyuha read a list of independents who have signed MoU’s with the NRM. They included John Yekko Arapa Kissa, Tress Bucanayandi, Lukwago Nalwanga, Isaac Sejjoba, Ibrahim Muwulize, John Emily Otekat, William Oketcho, Tanna Sanjay, Santos Piro Eruaga, Charles Oleny Ojok, Peter Nyombi, Rose Iriama, Barumba Rusaniya, Iddi Lubyayi Kisiki, Anne Auru and Margaret Angufiru.
LANDS minister Daniel Omara Atubo, who is also the Otuke County MP, on Friday signed a pact with the NRM to support all its programmes.
By signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU), Atubo, an Independent, undertook to support government policies both within and outside parliament.
He will also attend all NRM caucus meetings but remain an independent MP. In inking the pact on Friday, Atubo became the 17th Independent out of 36 to sign such a deal.
The move by the 17 is likely to swell NRM and government support in parliament especially when it comes to voting on crucial issues.
The pact was signed by Atubo and NRM Secretary General Amama Mbabazi at the NRM offices on Kyadondo road in Kampala.
On hand to witness the brief ceremony in which Atubo and Mbabazi used the same pen was Deputy NRM Secretary General Dorothy Hyuha and Atubo’s political assistant Kenneth Olelo. They too signed the documents.
Mbabazi gave Atubo the NRM constitution and manifesto and lauded the ceremony as symbolic before narrating a common history that he and Atubo enjoyed since the 70’s. He described himself and Atubo as progressive political activists.
“I am glad that at long last we have found each other once again,†Mbabazi said.
Atubo once served as state minister for foreign affairs and defence in the NRM.
Atubo praised the pact but stressed that he was still an Independent. He said despite his run-ins with the NRM, he still found it easy to work with it.
“It’s true that at one time I was hurt and bitter. But given my religious background, I cannot habour such bitterness forever. I forgave them (NRM) long ago,†Atubo said.
The purpose of the MoU, Mbabazi said, was a framework under which the Movement and Atubo shall cooperate in matters inside and outside parliament.
“He will support all government positions and policies and the NRM will give him full rights and privileges of a member but I must emphasise that he will remain an independent MP as defined by the Constitution,†Mbabazi said.
Atubo fell out with Uganda Peoples Congress early this year following alleged plans to rig him out in the party primaries. He contested for the Otuke seat on an independent ticket and trounced his opponents.
He becomes the first Independent from the opposition to sign such a pact.
Hyuha read a list of independents who have signed MoU’s with the NRM. They included John Yekko Arapa Kissa, Tress Bucanayandi, Lukwago Nalwanga, Isaac Sejjoba, Ibrahim Muwulize, John Emily Otekat, William Oketcho, Tanna Sanjay, Santos Piro Eruaga, Charles Oleny Ojok, Peter Nyombi, Rose Iriama, Barumba Rusaniya, Iddi Lubyayi Kisiki, Anne Auru and Margaret Angufiru.