I am still strong - Kajura
May 29, 2006
FORMER second deputy prime minister and public service minister Henry Kajura is still very vibrant, energetic and popular among his constituents, he said yesterday.
By Milton Olupot
FORMER second deputy prime minister and public service minister Henry Kajura is still very vibrant, energetic and popular among his constituents, he said yesterday.
Kajura, 71, one of the 69-nominees for ministerial posting, said it was wrong for anybody to suggest that he could not serve well given his age.
“I am still vibrant and work normal hours, even longer than young people,†Kajura said on phone.
“What matters is output... My master has recognised my contribution and re-appointed me.â€
Kajura was reacting to attacks levelled against him by Hoima district chairman George Bagonza who described him as a “centurionâ€.
Bagonza, purportedly on behalf of the Banyoro, criticised President Museveni for re-appointing Kajura, “a re-cycled material.â€
Asked how he felt being described as a centurion, Kajura said, “I am only 71 years. What’s better; having a man of 20 years who cannot deliver or an 80-year-old man who can?â€
Kajura watered down talk that the reason he lost a re-election as Bugahya MP was because voters rejected him during the NRM-party primaries.
“They (voters) didn’t reject me. I won the primaries in Hoima and things were changed in Kampala,†he said, adding that Bagonza was expressing his opinion, not the Banyoro’s.
Hoima NRM branch executive has threatened to drag Bagonza to the ruling political party’s disciplinary committee for challenging the decision of the party chairman and President, report Fred Kayizzi and Amlan Tumusiime.
In a hastily-called press conference at the Hoima district NRM office, the officials said Bagonza needed to substantiate his utterances.
The branch general secretary, David Maxwell Kaboyo, said Bagonza’s remarks were out of sheer “hatred and jealousy.â€
“Bagonza bears ill-will against Kajura.
“There are people who feel bad when others are excelling. Kajura has done a lot of things for Hoima district and many right-thinking Banyoro are very happy he is a minister (again),†Kaboyo said.
The NRM district publicist, Tom Muhe Bigabwenkya, said Bagonza had no powers to question the President’s constitutional discretion.
“As a member of NRM, Bagonza has erred to oppose the President’s appointment,†Muhe said. Museveni is also NRM chairman.
“This is indiscipline and he should face our disciplinary committee,†Muhe said.
NRM and Kajura supporters said they were neither bothered nor distracted by Bagonza’s attempt to “malign our man.†Contrary to his claim of melancholy among Banyoro, residents are in party mood waiting for a grand fete that will cap Kajura’s swearing in as minister.
Former Hoima town council Speaker Francis Kasoro, disclosed that sh20m has been set aside to celebrate and thank Museveni for re-appointing Kajura. Kasoro.
Hoima FM stations have since Kajura’s nomination for ministerial appointment been bombarded with congratulatory messages from especially sub-county chairpersons and Movement leaders, showing solidarity.
FORMER second deputy prime minister and public service minister Henry Kajura is still very vibrant, energetic and popular among his constituents, he said yesterday.
Kajura, 71, one of the 69-nominees for ministerial posting, said it was wrong for anybody to suggest that he could not serve well given his age.
“I am still vibrant and work normal hours, even longer than young people,†Kajura said on phone.
“What matters is output... My master has recognised my contribution and re-appointed me.â€
Kajura was reacting to attacks levelled against him by Hoima district chairman George Bagonza who described him as a “centurionâ€.
Bagonza, purportedly on behalf of the Banyoro, criticised President Museveni for re-appointing Kajura, “a re-cycled material.â€
Asked how he felt being described as a centurion, Kajura said, “I am only 71 years. What’s better; having a man of 20 years who cannot deliver or an 80-year-old man who can?â€
Kajura watered down talk that the reason he lost a re-election as Bugahya MP was because voters rejected him during the NRM-party primaries.
“They (voters) didn’t reject me. I won the primaries in Hoima and things were changed in Kampala,†he said, adding that Bagonza was expressing his opinion, not the Banyoro’s.
Hoima NRM branch executive has threatened to drag Bagonza to the ruling political party’s disciplinary committee for challenging the decision of the party chairman and President, report Fred Kayizzi and Amlan Tumusiime.
In a hastily-called press conference at the Hoima district NRM office, the officials said Bagonza needed to substantiate his utterances.
The branch general secretary, David Maxwell Kaboyo, said Bagonza’s remarks were out of sheer “hatred and jealousy.â€
“Bagonza bears ill-will against Kajura.
“There are people who feel bad when others are excelling. Kajura has done a lot of things for Hoima district and many right-thinking Banyoro are very happy he is a minister (again),†Kaboyo said.
The NRM district publicist, Tom Muhe Bigabwenkya, said Bagonza had no powers to question the President’s constitutional discretion.
“As a member of NRM, Bagonza has erred to oppose the President’s appointment,†Muhe said. Museveni is also NRM chairman.
“This is indiscipline and he should face our disciplinary committee,†Muhe said.
NRM and Kajura supporters said they were neither bothered nor distracted by Bagonza’s attempt to “malign our man.†Contrary to his claim of melancholy among Banyoro, residents are in party mood waiting for a grand fete that will cap Kajura’s swearing in as minister.
Former Hoima town council Speaker Francis Kasoro, disclosed that sh20m has been set aside to celebrate and thank Museveni for re-appointing Kajura. Kasoro.
Hoima FM stations have since Kajura’s nomination for ministerial appointment been bombarded with congratulatory messages from especially sub-county chairpersons and Movement leaders, showing solidarity.