Parliament commends Museveni for prioritizing infrastructure

By Moses Mulondo & Joyce Namutebi

Members of Parliament on Wednesday debated President Yoweri Museveni’s State of the Nation Address with some commending him especially for prioritizing infrastructure development. 

Kiboga East MP James Kiwalabye said, “I concur with the president on investments in infrastructure and energy because it will reduce the cost of doing business and boost the economy.”
     
West Budama County South MP Jacob Oboth said, “For so long our failure has been trying to do everything at ago. But this year’s address indicated that government has decided to focus on some major priorities.”

Amudat woman MP Rosemary Nauwat said, “The president talked about the importance of peace and security. The people of Karamoja are not happy because of peace. Even the animals are happy. Development has however been undermined by corruption. Serious action on the corrupt should be taken.”

Koboko woman MP Margret Baba Diri said, “Prioritizing infrastructure development is a step in the right direction. But the lifetime of the roads constructed by government is very short. The Arua-Karuma road has just been constructed but it is already getting broken.”

Busongora North MP William Nzoghu said, “In 1986, the President said the problem of Africa is leaders overstaying in power. When they overstay, they become intolerant and dictators. We expected President Museveni to announce that he would not stand in 2016.”

Former Leader of Opposition Nathan Nandala Mafabi said, “There is too much corruption in the NRM government which he ignored. There are so many roads Museveni has promised to construct in Bugisu region since 1986 which he has never constructed.”
   
Bufumbira County East MP Eddie Kwizera said, “Electricity has been extended to many areas but many of our people cannot afford it because power tariffs are high. The president regretted privatizing the commercial bank. We need more information on that. We need an agriculture bank to be established.”
   
Youth MP for the western region Gerald Karuhanga said, “Statistics from UBOS, Bank of Uganda and independent firms puts youth unemployment between 75% and 83%. Unemployment keeps escalating year after year. We expected the president to make commitments on solving unemployment which he did not.”

The opposition chief whip Cecelia Ogwal said, “80% of Ugandans depend on agriculture. Let us congratulate the president Museveni that the budget for agriculture has been declining and it is now 2.7% yet the Maputo protocol requires us to give it 15%. Let us congratulate him that our public debt has escalated to $7.3b.”

Reacting on behalf of government, defence minister Dr. Crispus Kiyonga said, “The issue of unemployment is bipartisan. We have succeeded in giving massive education to our people. The jobs will come with more industrialization.”

On the escalating public debt, Kiyonga said, “It is true our debt has been growing but it is still within the manageable limits. The good thing is that the loans we get are for productive sectors.”

After the debate, parliament passed a motion thanking the President for “a clear and precise exposition of government policy contained in his State of the Nation Address”