A local councilor almost punched a minister in President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni’s government in the western Uganda district of Kikuube.
Fred Byamukama, the junior minister of works and transport, was on June 29 in Kikuube to take part in the sensitization of locals on the Parish Development Model (PDM) when Kyangwali sub-county LC V councilor Nestrooy Tumwesigye nearly thumped him.
Councilor Tumwesigye was annoyed that Minister Byamukama had directed that parish chiefs who had skipped the event be compelled to come and some grilled for extorting money from locals to register them.
Minister Byamukama was unhappy that a number of parish chiefs, Community Development Officers (CDOs) and town clerks had skipped the meeting at the Kikuube District headquarters yet they are supposed to be instrumental in the implementation of the PDM.
The Museveni minister then used his powers to direct Milton Andrew Chelangat Kamalingin, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), to ensure that he calls all these officials to hurry to the venue or else be severely punished for absenteeism.
While Councilor Tumwesigye was already angry with Byamukama, the minister’s directive that parish chiefs who had extorted money from locals for the registration of Saccos and opening up of bank accounts be arrested and prosecuted, further infuriated the councilor from Kyangwali.
Tumwesigye jumped up and moved to beat up the minister for issuing orders for the arrest of parish chiefs. Had the security officers attached to the minister not hurried to shield him and to arrest the councilor, Byamukama would have left with bruises from punches and kicks from this local leader.
The councilor, who a month ago punched a fellow councilor during a visit by junior lands minister Dr Sam Mayanja, was detained at the Kikuube Central Police Station, and later Hoima City Central Police Station.
The orders which angered Tumwesigye had been issued after Kikuube RDC Amlan Tumusiime accused parish chiefs of extorting money from those who wanted to benefit from PDM. RDC Tumusiime said some parish chiefs were asking locals Shs50,000 while others were demanding up to Shs200,000.
It was not clear why the orders for the arrest of corrupt chiefs angered Tumwesigye. But some local leaders claimed that he had connived with some of them and that he could have been a beneficiary of the extortion.
This is not the first time that a minister in Museveni’s government is almost beaten by angry Ugandans. Just a few days ago, Minister Musa Ecweru was slapped by a man during a church mass. (Read Story Here).
Weeks before that, Finance Minister survived being punched by a Makerere University ‘Professor’ at the Uganda Media Centre. (Read Story Here).
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