[UAH] How Museveni kept ministers, MPs on the edge
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4:55 AM |
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By Cyprian Musoke and Moses Walubiri
For those not fond of figures and percentages, there was something to keep dignitaries on the edge of their seats during the President's Budget speech.
Taking to the podium just after Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka who had just done the technocratic role of reading out the figures, President Yoweri Museveni roused those who were about to switch into sleep mode with his rib-breaking jibes.
In his trade-mark style, when he reached the name of Leader of Opposition on the protocol observance list, the audience shouted; "This time he is around", to which he retorted; "You hear the excitement?" opening his eyes widely to Nandala Mafabi in reference to his observation in the state of the nation address last week that Mafabi is often absent, boycotting his speech.
"I thank you all for the positive contribution last year -- not the negative ones," he started, drawing bouts of laughter from the start.
Citing the economic might of one company NIPPON as equalling that of East African GDP, Museveni was booed by the opposition, to which he retorted; "This is the way to go. If you don't know this for us we know. Of course you (pointing at the opposition side) don't know. If you knew you wouldn't be on that side," he said, to thunderous laughter.
He said todays's GDP figures are better than yesteryears, "for those willing to learn."
"These are figures available to anybody at no cost. However Banyankore say one who is left behind thinks fellow travellers are still waiting for him or her," he said. When the opposition threw more murmurs and remarks refuting his GDP statistics and resolve of the NRM to fight corruption he inquired;
"Madam Speaker, is it in order for people to tell lies in Parliament?" he asked, immediately answering his own question; "The Speaker says it is out of order," a jolly Museveni said, causing more laughter.
There was a bit of a moment to mingle before the the 2013/14 budget speech was delivered. PHOTO/Kennedy Oryema
He, like he always does when addressing Parliament chided the seventh Parliament for blocking development projects like Bujagali hydro power project. "Who delayed Bujagali?" to which the MPs replied, "You". He retorted, "No, actually it is you!"
When he said that the NRM had successfully expedited the war against corruption, they shouted "OPM" in reference to recent corruption allegations and prosecutions in the Office of the Prime Minister, but he out-maneuvered them by saying; "We are the ones who discovered the theft there. Actually OPM was expediting (war against corruption) only that they were expediting in the wrong direction," he said, to laughter.
He said that he hoped Courts would expedite and deny bail to corruption suspects, to which the opposition chanted "Mbabazi" (Prime Minister Amama). He replied; "But he is not in court. You are suffering from nyeko. Mbabazi must be a very powerful man, if everybody is constantly talking about him," he said.
He said when he looked around the room he saw many young people who would have joined him in the fight against terrorism, extra judicial killings and now the war against the abuse of public offices but it is only the NRM cadres who had stood up to it. The opposition booed him, adding… "What about in State House?"
"NRM", Museveni stressed, "Should get rid of these mistake makers who are obsessed with Mbabazi all the time."
On Energy, he urged Mps to "try the internet" to know Kilowatt per hour, energy spent per person. "If you were in the bush you would not cause us these (energy shortage) problems but since you are here in Air conditioned rooms, you can't know," he said, drawing laughter.
He added that for him he sees many things in newspapers, but many people prefer to read only about Ssejussa (former coordinator of intelligence services Maj. Gen. David Tinyefuza) now self-exiled," he said.
When you hear people like Lubaga south MP Ken Lukyamuzi talking about environment, he is a shadow minister of darkness not environment, at which Lukyamuzi shouted back in protest, but a joking Museveni maintained his broad smile, which won the admiration of the opposition all through, and kept most of his audience awake in the sultry afternoon address.
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