COMMITTEE ON PRESIDENTIAL AFFAIRS MEETS THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY

The Committee was chaired by Fred Mwesigye with Peter Ogwang with aim of meeting representatives from the Office of the President with the aim of going through the half year performance and the status report on the challenges it faced. The presidency was represented by Deborah Katwiremu the secretary of the Presidency. Minister Ofwono Opondo was present but made no submissions. The presentation was long with a lot of items but ones that were most scrutinised as follows;

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

The half year budget release was Ushs 15.6 billion for wages and 23.7 billion for no wage. The actual expenditure was Ushs 15.6 for wages and the nonwage was almost fully used up with a variance of Ushs 15 million.

KARAMOJA PROGRAMME

380 improved goats were delivered to 27 agro pastoral field schools; 345 kenyan top beehives were delivered to 22 APFs groups to support IGPs in Karamoja; 29 production offices in 7 districts of Karamoja were completed and handed over.

494 pairs of local zebu oxen worth Ushs 612m and 494 ox ploughs worth Ushs 123m were delivered to 1,348 progressive farmers from 92 producer groups in 3 districts. 2 markets, 2 grain stores and 40 cattle crushes were provided and boreholes dug in 7 districts.

A consultant has been contracted to formulate a Teso Development Plan by the end of 2013/14 financial year.

THE AWARD OF MEDALS AND PATRIOTISM

There were 150 medallists awarded at 51st Independence Day anniversary as reported by the President’s office. The Chairman mentioned that MPs do not have medals, saying “we have been seeing medals and medals… but ours, we don’t see them.” Hon Sewungu questioned the value and worth of the medals and the government’s criteria for awarding them. Hon Gen Oketta responded to this by saying Sewungu calls the medals “just a medal because he doesn’t understand…” He took the opportunity to point that moment out as an example of why patriotism facilitation is needed. Hon SSebagala also sought to understand whether “Patrotism means loving President Museveni” stating that that is how the syllabus is going on. Mr Amooti Businge explained that every MP is entitled to medals and said the President was reminded about the proposed medals for MPs to which his reply is being awaited.

Hon Ssebagala further questioned the President’s office to explain the criteria used to give out awards and if it can be known whether they are applied for. He also sought information on whether there are packages accompanying the awards. Mr Businge replied that there is no money attached to the medals. He explained that the budget for such awards was thrown out in 2008 and there is work currently being undertaken to try and find other ways of supporting those recipients.

Mr Businge enlightened the Committee that the Parliament passed the National Honours and Awards Act of 2001 to which the Chair encouraged the MPs to make use of their iPads and discover the Act.

Hon Otto took the opportunity as chairman of the Parliament Football Club to request for medals for 1978 Uganda Football club members who appeared in the African Cup. He was informed that the President has already approved of their names.

STATE HOUSE SCHOLARSHIPS

Hon Ssebagala asked the Presidency to inform him on the issue of scholarships from State House and the criteria for distributing them. He remarked that the criterion needs to be more open so the public can understand it. Hon Otto praised the State House scholarship saying it had produced 4 Drs from his District. Mr Businge responded with “we are not taking on any new students with the Statehouse Scholarships. We are continuing with the old ones (until they finish school)… this was from requests of the Parliament committee.”

Hon Ssebagala questioned on the Presidency to explain if it is true that the system of State House Scholarships has been changed from private schools to government schools. Katwiremu answered in the affirmative saying that private schools had become extremely expensive and so it was cost effective to have those still under the system to be in government schools.

THE RIFT WITHIN THE MOVEMENT PARTY

Hon Ssebagala requested the Presidency to explain to the members what was happening within the Movement, if the members were safe. Saying “if we are budgeting for NRM then there is no way we cannot talk about the rift (between Mbabazi and Museveni).” Hon Ssebagala went ahead to suggest the President be summoned along with the President and be questioned by the Committee which was dismissed by the other members for lack of authority. The Chairman dismissed this submission as rumours.

THE TROUBLES WITH RDCS

The Committeee raised questions of why RDCs are not enforced or being empowered and helped. This is backed by Hon Sewungu on issues of tribalism as regards how RDCs are chosen saying some areas of the country are underrepresented. Hon Gen Oketta went on to state that some RDCs are undisciplined and troublesome. He cited the example of the RDC in Adjumani who told the Chairman of the Committee that he was not answerable to him. Vice Chair backed up this argument saying the best solution is for RDCs to be given refresher courses. He also stated that the salaries of RDCs are wanting. He gave the example of Deputy RDCs who earn Shs 1m which does not even cater for the transport the RDCs job requires.

Questions as to the outstanding gratuity for RDCs were raised and Katwiremu answered that Ushs 20m had been paid to each of the 26 RDCs however the money had not been in the budget as the Committee did not grant a supplement for it. She said there is still a balance of Ushs 10m for each to be paid by next financial year but the Ushs 20m is taxable and so the Mps should not hear complaints of less sums received and take that for theft.

PRESIDENCY PUBLIC RELATIONS

Hon Sewungu complained about the presidential spokesperson and Tamale Mirundi saying he “spends hours… abusing members of parliament, abusing everybody and he says he is the president’s dog… the only person he spares is the president!”… “Tamale is there, the president’s dog, barks!” The chairman cautioned him on his use of language. It was admitted by the Presidency that there is a need for more education especially in the Uganda Media Centre and the matter of Mr Mirundi would be referred to the Minister of Presidency- to this Hon Otto jumped in “or you fear he’ll turn on you…”

Hon Otto asked what plans the President’s office has in terms of budgeting for the Ushs 11.8 trillion which estimates show is needed to fulfil all the pledges and the fulfilling falls on the government. He however went on to commend the Presidency on fulfilling the demands made to his district, however noting that “Kaguta bridge” in his constituency was still not worked on despite the many promises and therefore it may be changed in name to “Besigye bridge” – he joked.

FREDERICK BAGONZA, STATE HOUSE AND HIV

Hon Ssebagala questioned the Presidency to clarify the situation of Mr Frederick Bagonza who asserted he was dismissed from State House because he was HIV positive. Hon Ssebagala asked “when someone working is HIV positive, is that the policy that he is removed?” Katwiremu answered that it is not State House’s policy to even know the status of people working within it, at the time he was dismissed his HIV status was not known she asserted. It was explained that he was dismissed on grounds of absenteeism. Ssebagala asked if State House would sue him for defamation. The reactions given although non-verbal implied there would be no such cause of action against Bagonza.

REGIONAL RELATIONS

It was presented that the presidency has accomplished programs i.e. mobilizing and promoting regional integration and relations using 7.4 billion shillings. The Chairman commended the presidency on good regional security and peace initiatives and maintenance of peace and security in the region despite terror threats. The presidency was also praised for promoting trade tourism and investment by attending meetings around the world and encouraging investors.

KOLOLO GROUNDS AND ISO

Many Members were visibly concerned when the Presidency informed the Committee that ISO was out of funding. It was explained that the Ministry of Finance was written to for money but it did not accept this. The Chairman exclaimed that there is a need for the Committee to be firm on that ground and see to it that ISO gets more funding because it is a security concern for the whole nation. Hon Ssebagala agreed and asked for a rough figure from the ISO representative. Ushs 30 billion was fielded and he requested the Chairman to let ISO put the request in writing so that it may be considered.

Hon Otto also expressed his concern about Kololo grounds. He argued they are national grounds but cannot be accessed because it should be a national monument for former presidents so why is it guarded? He as asking the ISO “those of us who expect to be presidents and buried there, we don’t

want to be left alone.” He said, expressing concern at the fact that the public is excluded from visiting Kololo grounds where former presidents are buried. On being informed that the grounds were under UPDF he asked “What has defence got to do with Kololo grounds?” The Chairman stated that there is a need therefore to call upon the UPDF leadership to explain why UPDF is stationed there.

FUNDING POLITICAL PARTIES

Hon Sewungu asked where the other political parties get their money to run their functions. Hon Otto stated that by law political parties should be funded by taxpayer’s money. He stated that all the opposition knows is that NRM is funded by government however opposition parties do not get funding which they are entitled to. He directly asked the Chairman to explain how the parties meetings and organizations are funded. The Chairman responded, “the meetings of the party are funded by the party… we pay every month” however the opposition members were not satisfied with this answer insisting that NRM caucus meetings are held at State House premises which automatically means the government is paying something.

The Chairman closed the meeting, thanking the President’s Office for its co-operation and requiring that the suggestions made by the Committee be taken up and acted upon as well as the questions raised by the members taken care of and answers provided in the future.