Mafabi quizzed over Museveni remarks

Budadiri West MP Nathan Nandala Mafabi was on Saturday questioned for allegedly calling President Yoweri Museveni a thief.

By Nathan Etengu

Budadiri West MP Nathan Nandala Mafabi was on Saturday questioned for allegedly calling President Yoweri Museveni a thief.

Nandala was also alleged to have used a radio talk show to make statements belittling ministers Dr. Beatrice Wabudeya (Presidency) and Michael Werikhe (energy).

The statements allegedly prompted the two ministers to storm the Open Gate FM station where they exchanged words with Mafabi.

Mbale district CID officer Isaac Oketcho said Mafabi reported to the Police and recorded a statement before he was released on bond.

“He is under investigation for calling Museveni a thief. We want to know why he uttered those words on a talkshow,” Oketcho said.

He said the police quelled the situation that had got out of hand after supporters of rival political parties nearly fought over the remarks.

He said supporters of the two ministers and those of Mafabi started a quarrel that could have led to a fight at the Bugisu Cooperative Union building, where the radio station is located.
Efforts to get a comment from Wabudeya or Werikhe were fruitless.

Mafabi, however, denied the allegations.

“My talk show was purely on multiparty politics. I did not belittle anyone. They are only trying to find ways of impressing the appointing authority after they learnt that they are nolonger with the population,” Mafabi said.

He said the ministers were trying to show Museveni that they were still on the ground in the hope that they would be re-appointed in the next cabinet.