Stop prioritising politics over welfare, says Minister Musasizi

The State Minister of Finance, Mr Henry Musasizi, has lashed at the Opposition for spending time in politicking while their supporters are battling with economic hardships.

Musasizi, who is also the MP for Rubanda East, made the remarks while speaking at Kitanga Catholic Parish in Rukiga District during the requiem mass for the late Dr Pius Ruhemurana.

Former Kabale Municipality mayor Ruhemurana died on Wednesday at Rugarama Hospital at the age of 76.

"Dr Ruhemurana was a strong member of the FDC, but during his time as mayor, he worked with the NRM government to avail services for the people of Kabale Municipality instead of spending time in politics, opposing everything," Musasizi said.

The requiem was well-attended by FDC-Katonga faction leaders, including Buhweju County MP Francis Mwijukye, Kabale Municipality MP Nicholas Kamara, and Fvice chairperson Proscovia Salaamu Musumba.

The Katonga group said the late Ruhemurana fought for peace and justice in the country.

In his speech read by Salaam Musumba, former FDC president Kizza Besigye said that for over 20 years, Dr Ruhemurana had struggled to see change of government, while Mwijukye hailed Ruhemurana for "fighting on" until his demise.

However, Minister Musasizi castigated the FDC leaders for taking the prevailing peace for granted.

"You see I have a friend who once told me that some of these things are like the oxygen we breathe. We don't see the oxygen or its importance. Same way, some of you don't see the peace brought by the NRM government, but if someone came and took it away, that's when you would wake up to the reality," he said.

Musasizi asked the opposition leaders, especially MPs, to support implementation of government programme, whose intention is to uplift socio-economic wellbeing of Ugandans.

"We belong to different political sides but there's one thing that should always bring us together, and that is the welfare of our people. It is how the late Ruhemurana viewed political leadership," he said.

Musasizi commended Dr Ruhemurana's efforts for a number of developments projects he implemented during his tenure as Mayor Kabale Municipality from 1996 to 2016.

These included the ongoing Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) road construction projects to widen and tarmac Rushoroza road, Bwankosya and Bushekwiire roads.

"We started planning to work on these roads during his time as mayor," Musasizi said.

Dr Ruhemurana is survived by a daughter, Joseline Ruhemurana, the only child he had with his wife who passed on about three years ago.

Ruhemurana was laid to rest on Friday at his ancestral home in Kashumuruzo Village, Kitanga Parish, Kashambya Sub-county in Rukiga District.