NATIONAL NEWS , Monday, February 4, 2013 5

Nebanda Museveni reconciles Butaleja leaders inquest set to By MOSES BIKALA NRM primaries, who included army capable of handling Allen Wegulo, Aida Hadoto, any security challenges, start this month President Sarah Namusari and Betty pursuing the correct ideology, has reconciled Butaleja Nesihwe also accepted to discrimination based on By VISION REPORTER NRM leaders and their support Nebanda in the by- religion and tribe, empowering supporters with a call on elections. all marginalised, pursuing The planned inquest them to consolidate NRM The President, who reiterated the industrialisation process into the death of former achievements that include his heartfelt condolences to widen the tax base and Butaleja Woman MP development, peace and to the family and people of creating jobs. Cerinah Nebanda is set stability. Butaleja upon the death of He called on all leaders to to start this month, the He made the call in a Cerinah Nebanda, said he had explain to the population Ministry of Internal Affairs meeting with Butaleja district forgiven those who alleged the step-by-step concept in has said. NRM leaders and councillors that the Government had a development, adding that the The Minister of State at the Butaleja district hand in the death of Nebanda. Florence Nebanda Sarah Namusari impression created by some for Internal Affairs, James headquarters on Friday. He said such people are liars to the masses that all Baba and the permanent During the meeting, the enemies of . development programmes can secretary, Patrick Steven hitherto wrangling camps “I would, first of all, like to and apologised. Uganda went through before be done at the same time was Kagoda, said on Thursday of NRM deputy secretary extend my condolences to “I have forgiven them and NRM came to power; a false. that facilities and logistics general, ambassador designate the people of Butaleja and forgotten about that,” he told situation that he observed “Every leader should talk for the inquest to start to Tanzania Dorothy Hyuha the family upon the death of the meeting. was characterised by political about industries and hotels were already in place. and that of Bunyole East MP my granddaughter, Cerinah Museveni, who is also the instability, lack of a correct but leaders talk about roads According to Kagoda, the Emmanuel Dombo pledged Nebanda. It was a great NRM chairman, expressed political ideology and or even oppose factories yet instrument of appointment to work together to strengthen shock because I had seen her gratitude for the reconciliatory disorientation in development at the same time they ask for of Judge Paul Mugamba to the party. They also vowed to in Parliament on Thursday move by the NRM leaders in programmes. roads. How will we then work conduct the inquest was rally behind the NRM flag- then on Friday she died. We Butaleja and their resolve to He urged the leaders on the roads?” he asked. signed and had been sent bearer, Florence Nebanda, in should find how to move on. rally behind the NRM party of Butaleja to strengthen Meanwhile, President to Parliament for gazetting. the forthcoming Butaleja by- Those who came here and flag-bearer. “I am very happy democracy and other Museveni first refuted An inquest is a judicial elections due February 11. talked rubbish are enemies of that you have reconciled here achievements gained by allegations by opposition that inquiry to determine the The Butaleja district Woman Uganda and don’t know the in Butaleja. I am glad that the NRM government like the Government had sold cause of death of a person MP seat fell vacant following history of NRM well,” he said. NRM leaders have eventually development, peace and Doho Irrigation and Rice who dies under unclear the death of Cerinah Nebanda Museveni said he was glad got united around my grand- stability. Schemes. He clarified that the circumstances. The inquest towards the end of last year. that different groups of people daughter, Florence Nebanda,” Museveni added that the rice farming scheme does not is conducted by a judge, The flag-bearer is a sister to from Butaleja, including some he said. NRM had managed to pacify belong to the Government as a government official or a the deceased. members of the family of The President reminded the country by deliberately the farms belong to wananchi jury in countries that have The other contestants in the Cerinah, went to Rwakitura them of the political turmoil building a disciplined in the area. the jury system. Inquests use witnesses, but suspects are not Ireland to re-channel aid, not take it away permitted to defend Ssemujju, Police c lean Kireka themselves unlike in the courts of law. At the PICTURE BY WILFRED SANYA By ANNE MUGISA donors joining Ireland to in aid had been diverted end of the inquiry, the demand a refund of the from the northern Uganda inquest would determine The Irish government has money. reconstruction programme whether the death was decided to re-channel the Muhakanizi said, however, and misappropriated by due to natural causes, $4m stolen from the Office that the Government and the officials in the OPM. accidental, misadventure, of the Prime Minister (OPM) donors had already agreed The principal accountant in suicide or murder. If to northern Uganda. that the money would be the OPM, Geoffrey Kazinda, the verdict is murder or The money, which has paid back “in accordance has since been charged in culpable accident, criminal since been refunded by the with the joint budget support court over theft of the funds. prosecution in the courts Uganda Government, has agreements with them as Other officials from the OPM of law may follow where so far landed several senior verified with the Auditor and the finance ministry are suspects would be allowed ranking officials in court, General.” facing similar charges. The to defend themselves. while others have been trial of Kazinda in one of Nebanda died quizzed by the Police. the cases involving the said mysteriously in December, The deputy secretary to the money has started. sparking off controversy treasury, Keith Muhakanizi, Pledge The other case, where he is that has resulted in the said yesterday that the Irish jointly charged with others, arrest of a number of government had decided not Muhakanizi said the is slated to start in April. individuals and MPs. to take away the money but Irish, under the new Norway, Sweden, Denmark, While the medical utilise it in the north through system, will implement Ireland and Britain froze reports so far released different channels. the programmes their aid to the country after indicate that Nebanda He said the money would the scandal was revealed. could have died of drug not go through the budget Norway is only asking for abuse, Nebanda’s family, support as had been the “That is not new. We a partial refund, since its some MPs and politicians case before the fraud was already agreed and we are aid was paid into a special at the burial alleged that uncovered. paying. I will be surprised if account that made it easier she could have been “Instead of the Uganda any of them said they were to identify fraudulent poisoned. To dispel the Government being the one to mad because we have not transactions. rumours, Museveni implement the programmes, paid back,” Muhakanizi said, “We have asked to be maintained that “one factor they (Irish) will implement naming Denmark, Sweden repaid 23m kroner ($4.2m) that is uncontestable is the programmes using and Norway as those to be and we have been promised that Nebanda, knowingly Kyadondo North MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda is joined by their own mechanisms,” paid back. that we will be,” said Astrid or unknowingly, was in the Police officers to clean Kireka Farmers Market on Friday Muhakanizi said. An investigation by the Versto, a spokeswoman for wrong company of either He declined to comment on Auditor General discovered the Norwegian minister of drug suppliers or users.” new reports of Scandinavian that $13.4 (about sh35b international development.