A former minister in President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni’s government is shaking tables in Uganda’s entertainment and business sectors.
From seeking to block the recently concluded Nyege Nyege Festival at the Itanda Falls in Jinja, to an attempt to control alcohol consumption in the country, this former minister is whipping up storms with Ugandan entertainment and beer lovers.
Those who remember how the move to block Nyege Nyege Festival started in Uganda’s Parliament know how instrumental Sarah Achieng Opendi, the Tororo District Woman MP, was instrumental.
A former State Minister of Mineral Development from December 2019 to June 2021, and former State Minister of Health in Charge of General Duties, Opendi has been one of the most outspoken members of the 11th Parliament so far.
Her outspokenness has recently been greeted with criticism from Ugandans who expressed their disappointment with a Parliament that they say is determined to police how individuals enjoy their lives.
Opendi, Speaker Anita Among and other moralist MPs argued that Nyege Nyege Festival was a hub of immorality and order for its cancellation. But Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja rubbished Parliament’s orders and the festival happened. In fact, Nabbanja’s deputy and former speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga attended and was seen making rare dance strokes. (Read Stories Here, There and Over There).
With moralist MPs losing their bid to stop Nyege Nyege Festival, it seems MP and former minister Opendi is not yet done.
This Tuesday, September 20 afternoon, Opendi is expected to present a motion of Parliament seeking leave of Parliament to introduce a new private member’s bill to control consumption of alcohol.
Opendi’s proposed piece of legislation is titled ‘The Alcohol Control Bill 2022. According to today’s order paper, the presentation of Opendi’s motion is item number six and it will take the former Museveni minister 10 minutes to make her presentation.
Opendi was one of the ministers who were dropped from cabinet last year. Unlike most other dropped ministers, Opendi was an MP and did not need a consolation of a presidential advisor job. (Read Story Here).
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