MP Ekanya, RDC Hashaka clash over NRM funding
Jan 28, 2009
Tororo County MP Geoffrey Ekanya and the resident district commissioner, Mpimbaza Hashaka, have clashed. Ekanya, also the parliamentary public accounts committee (PAC) chairman and Hashaka differred over whether it was proper for the district to allocate
By Moses Nampala
Tororo County MP Geoffrey Ekanya and the resident district commissioner, Mpimbaza Hashaka, have clashed. Ekanya, also the parliamentary public accounts committee (PAC) chairman and Hashaka differred over whether it was proper for the district to allocate money for National Resistance Movement party (NRM) functions.
“As chairperson of PAC, chief administrative officers allotting money for NRM party functions should stand warned that the practice is tantamount to misuse of public funds and will be grilled when they appear before the committee,†said Ekanya.
He made the remarks during the 23rd NRM liberation day celebrations at King George Stadium in Tororo district on Monday.
“Chief administrative officers ought to differentiate between national celebrations and NRM party celebrations,†warned Ekanya.
However, Hashaka rubbished the threats, describing the legislator as ignorant. “It is the NRM government that is in power and the liberation day is clearly spelled out on the national calendar,†said Hashaka.
He further reminded the MP that the office of PAC chairperson was elective and that the majority of the MPs in Parliament belonged to the NRM.
Not done, Hashaka said: “Throwing you out of this office is very easy because we have more that enough mandate.â€
Earlier on Ekanya had caused confusion when he gave away an NRM party cap to a lunatic who had approached him asking for money.
The MP had moments on arrival accepted an offer of the yellow NRM party cap from the Tororo Woman MP, Grace Oburu, to whom he sat next in the front row in the VIP tent.
The excitement of the audience after Ekanya accepted the cap made him uneasy and he attempted to hide it under his arms and away from the photojournalists after sensing the damage it may cause him.
As luck would have it, Ekanya disposed of the cap to the lunatic as soon as the moment presented itself. However, Ekanya’s gesture prompted angry reactions from party loyalists at the celebrations.
Tororo district local council chairperson Emmanuel Osuna said Ekanya’s act was out of line. “If it was during the past regimes, they would not allow him to walk away scot free, because his action was offensive to the NRM party,†said Osuna.
Tororo County MP Geoffrey Ekanya and the resident district commissioner, Mpimbaza Hashaka, have clashed. Ekanya, also the parliamentary public accounts committee (PAC) chairman and Hashaka differred over whether it was proper for the district to allocate money for National Resistance Movement party (NRM) functions.
“As chairperson of PAC, chief administrative officers allotting money for NRM party functions should stand warned that the practice is tantamount to misuse of public funds and will be grilled when they appear before the committee,†said Ekanya.
He made the remarks during the 23rd NRM liberation day celebrations at King George Stadium in Tororo district on Monday.
“Chief administrative officers ought to differentiate between national celebrations and NRM party celebrations,†warned Ekanya.
However, Hashaka rubbished the threats, describing the legislator as ignorant. “It is the NRM government that is in power and the liberation day is clearly spelled out on the national calendar,†said Hashaka.
He further reminded the MP that the office of PAC chairperson was elective and that the majority of the MPs in Parliament belonged to the NRM.
Not done, Hashaka said: “Throwing you out of this office is very easy because we have more that enough mandate.â€
Earlier on Ekanya had caused confusion when he gave away an NRM party cap to a lunatic who had approached him asking for money.
The MP had moments on arrival accepted an offer of the yellow NRM party cap from the Tororo Woman MP, Grace Oburu, to whom he sat next in the front row in the VIP tent.
The excitement of the audience after Ekanya accepted the cap made him uneasy and he attempted to hide it under his arms and away from the photojournalists after sensing the damage it may cause him.
As luck would have it, Ekanya disposed of the cap to the lunatic as soon as the moment presented itself. However, Ekanya’s gesture prompted angry reactions from party loyalists at the celebrations.
Tororo district local council chairperson Emmanuel Osuna said Ekanya’s act was out of line. “If it was during the past regimes, they would not allow him to walk away scot free, because his action was offensive to the NRM party,†said Osuna.