MPs Reject Informal Invitation To Pader
THE parliamentary committee on defence has rejected Lt. Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho’s (Salim Saleh) informal invitation to visit fighting UPDF soldiers in Pader,
THE parliamentary committee on defence has rejected Lt. Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho’s (Salim Saleh) informal invitation to visit fighting UPDF soldiers in Pader, reports Joyce Namutebi.
They questioned whether Saleh’s invitation through their colleague Harry Kasigwa (Jinja Municipality West) was genuine or some kind of trickery.
Some wanted to know the mode of transport to take them to Pader before committing themselves to travel to the rebel-infested district.
The vice-chairperson of the committee, Betty Udongo (Nebbi), told MPs yesterday that Kasigwa said he had received a telephone call from Saleh inviting the committee to Pader to meet the soldiers there as the legislators discuss the ministry budget.
But MPs said the way the invitation was sent raised doubt and that they could not accept it. They said Saleh should have made the invitation through the Speaker of Parliament.
Kasigwa did not attend yesterday’s meeting. The MPs were scrutinising their observations and recommendations on the NGO Bill.
Phinehas Katirima (Army Representative) said, “We determine the schedule of our work. If the invitation is formalised, let us include it in our work schedule.â€
Saleh is on the Government’s team negotiating peace with Joseph Kony’s LRA rebels.
“We would like Kasigwa to come and tell us how we are going,†Ben Etonu (Amuria) said.
Ends
They questioned whether Saleh’s invitation through their colleague Harry Kasigwa (Jinja Municipality West) was genuine or some kind of trickery.
Some wanted to know the mode of transport to take them to Pader before committing themselves to travel to the rebel-infested district.
The vice-chairperson of the committee, Betty Udongo (Nebbi), told MPs yesterday that Kasigwa said he had received a telephone call from Saleh inviting the committee to Pader to meet the soldiers there as the legislators discuss the ministry budget.
But MPs said the way the invitation was sent raised doubt and that they could not accept it. They said Saleh should have made the invitation through the Speaker of Parliament.
Kasigwa did not attend yesterday’s meeting. The MPs were scrutinising their observations and recommendations on the NGO Bill.
Phinehas Katirima (Army Representative) said, “We determine the schedule of our work. If the invitation is formalised, let us include it in our work schedule.â€
Saleh is on the Government’s team negotiating peace with Joseph Kony’s LRA rebels.
“We would like Kasigwa to come and tell us how we are going,†Ben Etonu (Amuria) said.
Ends