Back Off Tumwebaze, NRM Caucus Tells MPs

No nonsense Kampala Minister Frank Tumwebaze.

Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party has asked its legislators to withdraw from the censure motion against Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister in Charge of Kampala Capital City Authority.
The decision was reached in the NRM caucus meeting Tuesday morning chaired by David Bahati, the Deputy NRM chief whip.
Recently, a group legislators led by Abdi Kisosi Chemaswet, the Kween county Member of Parliament embarked on the collection of signatures to censure the minister following the controversy surrounding the impeachment of Erias Lukwago, the Lord Mayor Kampala Capital City Authority. It came after Justice Yassin Nyanzi ruled the impeachment of Lukwago null and void.
However, the NRM leadership argues that the censure motion against Tumwebaze is unnecessary because he acted within the law. The party also says the injunction issued by the high court registrar to stop the impeachment of the lord mayor was a sham.
According to the sources, the vice president Edward Ssekandi reportedly told the caucus that the court order should be investigated saying it was issued in disregard of the court procedures. Ssekandi reportedly argued that the time when the order was issued is suspect because no court sits before 9 AM yet the injunction was delivered before that time.
He also argued that Allan Ssewanyana, the Makindye councilor was not the right person to serve the order since he doesn’t work in court. Sources further intimated to URN that during the meeting, top party officials asked the MPs to explain why they want to censure the minister. Medard Bitekyerezo, the Mbarara Municipality one of the petitioners reportedly said he had personal problems with the minister. He however accepted to withdraw from the petition as directed by party leadership.
When approached by our reporter, Bitekyerezo confirmed withdrawing from the censure motion but denied telling the caucus that he had personal issues with the minister.
However, Abdi Kisosi Chemaswet, the Kween county Member of Parliament and lead petitioner stuck to his position saying he would continue with the censure. Chemaswet insisted that Tumwebaze violated the constitution and other laws that govern Uganda. The NRM caucus was convened to discuss events that have transpired at KCCA since the impeachment of Lukwago.