MPs to ask Museveni to explain Uganda-Rwanda tension at Kyankwanzi

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | National Resistance Movement (NRM) party MPs want President Museveni to explain the on-going tensions between Uganda and Rwanda.

The MPs on Wednesday set off for a one-week caucus retreat at the National Leadership Institute Kyankwanzi district, where the party will assess their performance since 2016.

Noah Olega Ashraf the Aringa County MP says the border closure has affected business between Uganda and Rwanda. He says that it has taken the Government long to explain the tension and what is being done to address it.

Rehema Watongola, the Kamuli Municipality MP says although the tensions between the two countries was included in the program for the retreat, they expect the President to inform the MPs about the current situation.

Alex Ruhunda, the MP Fort Portal Municipality MP says President Museveni should meet his Rwandan counterpart and resolve the matter. He says Ugandan businesses have been hurt by the closure.

Last month, Rwanda strongly advised Rwandan nationals to desist from crossing into Uganda.

Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Richard Sezibera accused Uganda of alleged support to dissidents planning to destabilise Rwanda.

Other MPs want the retreat to focus on the economy, recent top party organ resolutions and measures to resolve rampant land disputes.

Kassanda South MP, Simeo Nsubuga revealed that they were going to receive a report of resolutions made by the recent party Central Executive Committee (CEC) at Chobe Safari Lodge. He said that MPs will be expected to discuss the CEC resolutions and come up with their resolutions.

Nsubuga said that he will support the CEC resolutions which among others included the endorsement of President Museveni as the party’s candidate in the 2021 polls and lining up in the party’s internal elections.

Ruhinda County MP, Dononzio Kahonda said that the retreat is timely given that the 2021 election road map is already released. He says that there is need for the party to prepare itself for the general election.

However, Dokolo South MP Felix Okot Ogong said that it is wrong for the NRM parliamentary caucus to endorse a presidential candidate for the 2021 election since the decision is supposed to be taken by all party members.

Independent Nwoya Woman MP, Lilly Adong who has been invited for the retreat said that she will address the matter of rampant grabbing in her region to seek solutions on the matter.

Kumi County MP, Charles Illukor said that it was important for the caucus retreat to come up with measures on how decisions made by government are implemented to ensure service delivery.

Isingiro County South MP, Alex Byarugaba said that he expects the retreat to assess the party’s performance in regards to the different pledges made to Ugandans in the past.

According to the NRM Parliamentary Caucus Spokesperson, Margaret Muhanga, MPs including Kasambya County’s Gaffa Mbwatekamwa, Patrick Oshabe for Kassanda North, Buyaga West’s Barnabas Tinkasimiire, Kumi Woman MP Monica Amoding, John Baptist Nambeshe for Manjiya County and Lwemiyaga County legislator Theodore Ssekikubo are not invited for the retreat since they are no longer loyal to the party.

*******

URN