Govt whip Obua clashes with MPs over censure signatures

Tensions flared as the government chief whip clashed with MPs leading the censure motion against four parliament commissioners, accusing them of bypassing protocols.

Despite the chief whip's attempts to censor censure signatures, the MPs remained resolute in their intention to proceed with the motion, even as more NRM legislators pledged their support by adding their signatures.

This is the termed mighty table of signatures to censure the commissioner. As early as 9am this was deserted. Shortly after, MP Simon Opolot (Kanyum County) came to the table.

As they gathered at the table, there came the government chief whip. He confronted the petitioner Theodore Ssekikubo, accusing him of failing to go through the party procedures and engaged outsiders.

“You have your inner/nuclear family, but you have never brought this complaint to us. You rather engaged gear number two before you engaged number one. You faulted the rules of procedure of the party, NRM,” Obua said.

MPs told him off, that he has failed to listen to the calls of the people prompting them to act. Obua walked away telling them not to forget his effort in Temangalo land saga.

“Rt Hon Government Chief Whip, isn’t this you trying to run away from your duty?" Ssekikubo fired back.

"You saw us struggle on the floor to raise the issue. It has been in the public domain, but you chose silence. Why would you now choose to employ sabotage in the third week of signatures? Should we not ask you the position of NRM on corruption?”

“We can not now let the cause die, ours is to take action if those privileged cannot be helpful but refer us to non-exixtent directives then we know where their interest lies,” Opolot added.

While he stressed his caution against members signing, more NRM members embraced the motion signing and giving assurance that his directive is non-binding.

Some legislators say they would rather lose their sits in parliament than sit to watch their President struggle alone in the fight against corruption.

“I know there is going to be retaliation. But we can sit as others loot recklessly. For me this is to stand with the President as he fights corruption. I know this is opening the battle, but let whoever wants to fight me back in the constituency come clear. That am ready for,” said Kanungu Woman MP Patience Ankunda.