Museveni, PM Nabbanja "hijack" CEC meeting with prolonged argument

President Museveni and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja  surprised the Central Executive Committee as the two engaged in a prolonged argument on the role of Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and parish chiefs.

According to a source, whereas the Friday meeting was a  smooth one and many resolutions were on course,  towards the end of the meeting, Nabbanja and President Museveni cut off the rest as they got involved in a prolonged argument on two specific issues.

First it was the issue of RDCs who Museveni is not happy with.

He argued that most RDCs are using their positions for political capital instead of extending services to the people and waking them up from poverty.

Museveni argued that going forward, it would be important that only those who were willing to serve the people be appointed rather than appoint people who were enroute to a political office.

“These RDCs, most of them, are busy looking for political office instead of serving the people. A good RDC is one who mobilises people to create household income instead of wasting time fighting fellow leaders and members of the opposition,” Museveni argued.

The president continued that he was tired of having different NRM leaders propose names of people who have failed in elections as RDCs, adding that he was now going to work with the new Minister for Presidency, Dhoka Milly Babalanda who has a grand plan on having better RDCs chosen from within locals in the area.

At this point, Nabbanja interrupted, arguing that the strategy of RDCs has been fruitful citing herself as an example.

“Your excellency, the position has been helpful to groom cadres for this party. For Instance, I was an RDC, Mr Frank Tumwebaze (Minister for Agriculture) was an RDC. These RDCs can never go against the party and the government,” Nabbanja argued.

She insisted that RDCs are an important grooming hub and should be left that way, something Museveni dismissed immediately.

“What help? You were an RDC in Busia and that district is still one of the poorest, what did you do there?” Museveni challenged Nabbanja.

“Your excellency, I managed to neutralise Aggrey Awori, he would later join the NRM,” Nabbanja argued.

Museveni again argued that RDCs should leave such jobs to other people are concentrate on things like the Parish model and how to get residents out of poverty. He maintained that an RDC should not resign office to seek for election as a member of parliament, arguing that it was wrong and should stop henceforth.

Nabbanja was chipping  in again when Museveni immediately called her to order.

“Nabbanja you should listen, you do not just talk and talk but also listen. You talk too much,” he said.

Alas, Nabbanja again rose on a different point to speak about District Service Commissions, specifically parish chiefs.

The Premier told CEC that there was a specific form of corruption in the District Service Commissions, saying that different officials needed to be arrested.

“I do not understand how someone can come from Kasese and be a parish chief in Kakumiro. A parish chief earns about Shs400,000. It is therefore logical that this person is bribing someone to give them a job as a parish chief in a district where they do not come from. We need these arrested,” Nabbanja suggested.

According to Nabbanja, jobs of that nature should as a matter of priority first go to the residents of the area.

Museveni did not disagree but asked Nabbanja why she was just speaking about it.

“Nabbanja do you really need permission to arrest these people?!” he posed, to which the Premier answered she would do so immediately.

The meeting would later end very shortly thereafter.

Speaking to Nile Post, a CEC member on condition of anonymity said  it was a “normal respectful debate”.

“That is exactly why we are the NRM, because we caucus and debate ideas then choose the most workable. This was a very respectful and insightful debate and there is nothing wrong,” the member said.