Minister Nantaba again snubs Museveni function

President Museveni (3rd righty) waves to residents after commissioning the Kayunga district office block on Thursday. On his right is Mr Steven Dagada. Photo by Fred Muzaale 

KAYUNGA
Lands State minister Idah Nantaba has for the third time snubbed a function presided over by President Yoweri Museveni in Kayunga district insisting that she cannot attend a function organized by her political rival Moses Karangwa.
Ms Nantaba, who late last year refused to attend two functions where president Museveni commissioned an FM radio station in Kayunga Town and another one when the president was campaigning for his re-election, surprised leaders and residents in the district when she again refused to attend a Thursday function during which the president commissioned a Shs2.5bn Kayunga district office block despite requests from organisers asking her to attend.

According to Mr Karangwa , the Kayunga district NRM chairman, who was one of the organisers of the function, the gathering was to be used as a reconciliation meet.
“I have all along said that I will never attend a function organized by Karangwa and I have also said that I will not return to NRM unless he (Karangwa) relinquishes that post. I still stand by my word,” Ms Nantaba told Daily Monitor on phone. Ms Nantaba is Kayunga district woman MP.

Mr Karangwa said he had sent an invitation to Ms Nantaba, with whom they don’t see eye to eye. Ms Nantaba accuses Karangwa of planning her political downfall while Mr Karangwa accuses Nantaba of undermining him politically.
Addressing residents, President Museveni, who last year promised to intervene in the political wrangles between the two leaders, however, noted that despite the political wrangles between local leaders the district leadership of Kayunga District LC5 chairperson, Mr Steven Dagada has been able to do good work by constructing a magnificent district office block.

“I am happy that despite the political wrangles you have here, Mr Dagada and his group have been able to build this office block. You should applaud the district leadership for this good work because unlike other district leaders, who embezzle the funds we send them, they have been able to do good work,” Mr Museveni said.
The district office block, was constructed using funds donated by government, local revenue collection and a Shs 100m donation by president Museveni.
Mr Museveni also urged Ugandans to stop wasting time talking about the just concluded elections saying time for elections was over and they should embark on carrying out activities that will give them money to fight poverty.

Commenting on requests by supporters of Mr Patrick Nsanja, the Ntenjeru south MP who lost his re-election bid, Mr Museveni said he cannot interfere in election matters because “ I am not a lawyer and [EC boss Badru]Kigundu .”
“You remember even when [Amama] Mbabazi dragged me to court that I stole his votes? It was court that exonerated me after the judges asked him how an old man with a hat cans still all three million votes. They asked him whether he was asleep when I stole all those votes from him,” he said amid applause from the gathering.

After the function, there was, however, drama after a number of residents beat the president’s security detail and talked to the presidents, who had entered his vehicle.
The residents who were shouting and demanding to see the president forced him to make four stopovers to listen to their grievances.
Mr Karangwa asked the president to consider elevating Kayunga Town council to a municipality status.