Mugarama says the ministers decision is too political and unacceptable. He wonders how the minister would invite a minister to commission an institute that was built with government funds without involving the district chairman. According to Mugarama, he has already written to Muyingo asking him not to turn up for the event because they already invited President Museveni to preside over it in November.
There is a fresh row between the Defense and Veterans Affairs Minister, Adolf Mwesige and Bunyangabu LC V Chairperson, James Ategeka Mugarama. It follows a decision by Mwesige to invite John Chrysostom Muyingo, the State Minister for Higher Education to Commission Katugunda Vocational Institute in Kabonero Sub County without consulting Bunyangabu district leadership.
On September 4, 2018, Mwesige wrote to Bunyangabu Chief Administrative Officer, Peter Nsungwa Ruhweeza informing him that Muyingo had accepted his invitation to commission the vocational institute on November 11. "The purpose of this letter is to inform you and invite you to attend the function. Owing to the fact that the minister's program is tight, there will be few speeches as follows. Principal/Head teacher speech (5 minutes), speech by district education officer (5 minutes), Hon Peace Mutuzo (5 minutes), Hon Adolf Mwesige invites the Guest of Honor to speak (5 minutes), Guest of Honor (5 minutes)," reads the letter. In the same letter, a copy of which URN has seen, Mwesige asks Ruhweeza to ensure the commissioning ceremony is a success.
Mugarama says the minister's decision is too political and unacceptable. He wonders how the minister would invite a minister to commission an institute that was built with government funds without involving the district chairman. According to Mugarama, he has already written to Muyingo asking him not to turn up for the event because they already invited President Museveni to preside over it in November.
In his October 2nd, 2018 letter to Muyingo, Mugarama writes "I would like to bring to your attention the fact that the Hon Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs may want to drag you into fighting his personal wars against the district leadership while bragging that he has been in government leadership positions for a long time and can influence his colleagues to do what he wants at any time."
Mugarama claims the Minister Mwesige has been fighting him politically because he of defeating his favorite candidate in the LCV race.
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Mugarama observes that it was also irregular for the Mwesige to appoint the principal of the same vocational institute without the knowledge of the District Service Commission.
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Efforts to get a comment from Mwesige were futile as his office numbers weren't going through. Commenting on the row, Remegious Turyahebwe, the Rwimi sub county LC V councilor, says both parties are wrong. He argues that whereas tMwesige is wrong to organise an event without informing the district leadership, Mugarama shouldn't have rushed to stop Muyingo from coming.
"Mugarama should have tried to solve the issue from within the district because it doesn't matter who opens the vocational institute. What matters is the fact that it is opened and serves the children of Bunyangabu," he said.
Mwesige and Mugarama have been clashing on a number of issues. Last month, when Gen Salim Saleh, the Chief coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation - OWC program visited Bunyangabu district, Mugarama identified Bunyangabu Modern Farmers' Association as the best farmers of Matooke. He even suggested that Saleh should visit them and have lunch with them.
But Mwesige objected to this without giving any explanation. Whereas the State for Gender and Culture, Peace Mutuuzo, Gen. Saleh and all other district leaders agreed to meet the association members, Mwesige did not.
Christopher Tusiime
Guest