Ugandan opposition leader, Dr Kizza Besigye has joined a section of MPs to scold Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa whom they accuse of being the alpha of Uganda’s problems with United Nations.
According to Besigye and the legislators, Kutesa’s image is the reason the UN is choosing to transfer their regional base to Nairobi as he does not give a reliable image to the country.
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UN in a May 1 report to its Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), wrote to drop Entebbe as their regional base and recommended Nairobi as an alternative host, with the two other recommended locations being the Hungary and Mexico.
President Museveni would later write back in protest, arguing that it would be unfair to relocate the base to Nairobi despite the two countries being at friendly terms.
Consequently, Members of parliament yesterday debated the matter, with a section labelling UN ingrates. They accused UN of failing to acknowledge Uganda’s efforts to regional peace despite the country paying with blood.
However, Dr Besigye argues that Uganda’s problems start and end with former UN general assembly president and Minister for foreign affairs, Sam Kutesa.
“We are our own enemies! Can a Foreign Minister "indicted" over corruption and abuse of UN top office persuade the same UN about Uganda being a good UN host country?” Besigye wondered.
Buhweju County MP, Francis Mwijukye also argues that Kutesa has painted Uganda with dirt and therefore a reason why United Nations is looking elsewhere.
“He is wanted, he cannot go to china, UK or America, how can he negotiate for us? you cannot negotiate using a person that is not clean,” he said.
Aruu County MP, Odonga Otto said it is high time the government does something to rectify the issues surrounding Kutesa, or hand him over to where he is wanted.
It is alleged that Sam Kutesa, with the help of his wife Edith Gasana, allegedly solicited the $500,000 bribe from Chinese investors, according to the complaint sworn before a US Magistrate Kevin Fox.
The bribery scheme was hatched in the halls of the United Nations in New York and spanned several continents. Kutesa also allegedly used to extend gifts and promises of future benefits to President Yoweri Museveni, including offering to share the profits of a potential joint venture in Uganda involving the Energy Company and businesses owned by the families of the Ugandan Foreign Minister and the President of Uganda.
