{UAH} Pojim/WBK: Minister threatens to quit for failure to meet Museveni

http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/38421-minister-threatens-to-quit-for-failure-to-meet-museveni

Minister threatens to quit for failure to meet Museveni

Written by Deo Walusimbi

Last Updated: 24 June 2015

Minister Vincent Nyanzi

Angered by what he calls the "arrogance" of presidential aides, a state minister in the office of the vice president has threatened to resign, The Observer has learnt.

Vincent Nyanzi told a June 10 cabinet meeting at State House Entebbe that some aides were slowing his performance by blocking him from meeting the president. The meeting, which was discussing the "implementation progress of different projects", was chaired by Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda at the time Nyanzi spoke.

According to our source, an angry Nyanzi threatened to resign if the presidential aides were not reined in. Nyanzi reportedly pointed an accusing finger at Major Edith Nakalema, president Museveni's principal private secretary in charge of secretarial duties.

He reportedly told the meeting that sometimes ministers need to consult the president, but are unable to reach him. Nyanzi spoke shortly after Museveni had moved out of the meeting. But at a subsequent meeting on June 17, the president told ministers that "he had heard Nyanzi's message" and had seriously taken note of it].

Nyanzi declined to comment on the matter, when The Observer reached him this week, saying he was more interested in his voters than in journalists.

"But if you want to get details of what I said in cabinet, go to the cabinet secretariat or the prime minister."

Minister Nyanzi is no stranger to controversy. During the 2001 parliamentary election campaign, his bodyguard shot and killed a man. Nyanzi, together with the bodyguard, were arrested and charged with murder.

He was released on bail and eventually exonerated by the courts. Nyanzi lost his ministerial appointment during that period, but retained his parliamentary seat.
DUE PROCESS

However, Linda Nabusayi, the deputy presidential press secretary, said ministers were free to meet the president provided they followed due process. 

"I don't know what kind of ministers you are talking about, but there is no way Major Nakalema can block a minister from accessing the president," Nabusayi said by telephone on Monday. "

We have a process followed by ministers to meet the president, but just imagine if all ministers want to access the president. There is a prime minister who [coordinates] ministers."

Ministers, Nabusayi said, are expected to discuss issues in their ministries with the prime minister, who may refer them to the president if he deems it necessary. And should they be dissatisfied with the prime minister, they can try to see the president during cabinet meetings.

"If that fails, and the issue is urgent, they can call directly on the switch board, or write a brief through the PPS [principal private secretary]," Nabusayi said. "That is on official matters; if it's a personal matter, a minister waits for an opportunity to interact with the president during public functions." 
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Minister threatens to quit for failure to meet Museveni

http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/38421-minister-threatens-to-quit-for-failure-to-meet-museveni

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