Corridors of power

Aug 28, 2007

<b>Is Tete Kenyan?</b><br>BEFORE we prepare for political federation, it seems Bukwo MP Tete Chelangat is already a Kenyan! Every time she comes to the parliamentary committee, her colleagues ask her about Kenyan issues and not Uganda’s.

Is Tete Kenyan?
BEFORE we prepare for political federation, it seems Bukwo MP Tete Chelangat is already a Kenyan! Every time she comes to the parliamentary committee, her colleagues ask her about Kenyan issues and not Uganda’s. Reason? she passes through Kenya before coming to parliament. “I don’t know whether I am a Kenyan or Ugandan. My constituency has no roads, so we have to go through Kenya and then to Kampala,” she said. Many MPs were left wondering why she has not requested the Kenyan government to take over the constituency. Hmm!

Taking no chances
With increasing demands for better roads, electricity and other amenities in their constituencies, MPs are not taking chances. They complain to whichever minister is responsible. In addition to their names and constituencies, they also have to say what their constituencies lack. It goes something like: “I am so and so from Bududa, we have no road, I am so and so from Bundibugyo, we have no water, electricity… ” they introduce themselves with gloomy faces, to make sure the minister appearing before the committee takes their issues seriously.

MP kabusu happy
Kyamuswa MP Moses Kabusu had reason to smile on Friday when he learnt that finally the report of the agriculture committee had included his complaints about the Kalangala fish- mongers. “Why are you smiling? Is it because the fish-mongers are talked about?” MP John Odit inquired. “Yeah,” Kabusu answered with glee. We hope the struggle means more votes for the MP.

Mafabi’s power
MP Nandala Mafabi might be a small man but he knows that he has powers over anybody as long as they appear before the public accounts committee which he heads. The army and the police, usually the tough lot, tremble before him. “You always arrest us, this time I am arresting you,” he cautioned, causing the permanent secretary to request for more time to hand in the documents. Now that is surely power.

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