MPs Ssekikubo, Tinkasimire warn on Aronda

By Joyce Namutebi                                      

KAMPALA - MPs Theodore Ssekikubo and Barnabas Tinkasimire have warned that they will put the appointments committee to task should they approve Gen. Aronda Nyakairima as minister.              

They vowed to “do all it takes to make them [committee] to account if they approve Aronda”, with Ssekikubo making it clear that “we shall take them on, on the floor of Parliament”.

Ssekikubo represents Lwemiyaga county and Tinkasimire Buyaga county.

 Recently President Yoweri Museveni nominated Aronda – former Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) – as minister of internal affairs.

But when he appeared before the committee chaired by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, a resolution was reached to defer the vetting process pending further consultations with the president.

Last Saturday, legislators met the Museveni but remained adamant to approve Aronda unless he resigns from the army first, sources said.

The committee is scheduled to interview the former CDF next week.

Ssekikubo insisted that "there is no evidence that he has resigned as commanded by the Constitution and the UPDF Act".

He warned that while debating the Ministry of Internal Affairs Policy statement, they expect to see the substantive minister.  "We would not accept a substitute when debating the policy statement.”

The outspoken lawmaker accused the president of "wanting to create a crisis where the acting CDF will be forced to salute the outgoing CDF".

Commenting on the President's visit to Semuto on Monday, Ssekikubo asked government to account for all the funds that have been given to Luwero Triangle.

He also questioned why Museveni was launching a massive poverty-eradication campaign after 30 years. "This is more of a campaign gimmick," he said.

His fellow MP Tinkasiimire, with whom he was expelled from the NRM party, said: "What reason would you give to appoint him [Aronda] minister and retain him in the army? Museveni himself resigned from the army. Alupo (Education minister) is a retired major."

"Supposing Cabinet disagrees with the army, what position is he [Aronda] going to take?"

He argued that appointing the armyman a minister, "they are inviting the military into civilian politics."

Tinkasimire said further that by virtue of his appointment, Aronda is supposed to chair the security council and the CDF, Gen. Katumba Wamala, is supposed to attend.

"What if the CDF does not agree with a position, what will happen in the security council?" he asked, and went on to question the purpose of the President's visit to Semuto, which is part of Luwero triangle.

The two MPs were dismissed from NRM for breach of the party code.