The First Deputy Prime Minister, General Moses Ali has told off legislators in the 10th Parliament to concentrate on their legislative duties and leave issues of sanctioning controversial Ugandan ambassador to Burundi, H.E Matayo Kyaligonza from duty, saying these are issues of generals and it will be the same generals to sort out the matter.
His remarks were in response to concern raised by Mr. Roland Mugume (Rukungiri Municipality) who asked Parliament to deal with the embattled General after he slammed Parliament for taking a resolution to recall him from duty after he was allegedly caught on camera slapping a female traffic officer in Seeta, Mukono recently.
However, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Jacob Oulanyah cautioned that much as Mr Mugume had accused Mr Kyaligonza for contempt of Parliament, there is a difference between disrespect of Parliament and contempt of parliament.
“Some of the things don’t define what we are. We know what we are, what we do. If somebody called me a fool, I would look at them and smile. I wouldn’t take it beyond that,” Mr. Oulanayh said.
Mr Kyaligonza is accused together with his guards of slapping Sgt Esther Namaganda, a female traffic officer in Seeta, Mukono District in February this year after she tried to stop his driver from making a U-turn in the road.
Parliament resolved on February 27 resolved to recall Mr Kyaligonza from his diplomatic duties in Burundi for his “unacceptable behaviours.”
However, during Monday press briefing, Mr Kyaligonza slammed parliament for passing such a resolution and described MPs as stupid.
However, Gen Moses Ali expressed doubt on the authenticity of the papers and the audio recording Mr Kaginda presented and declined to comment on what the executive will do regarding Mr Kyaligonza’s latest remarks or even the resolution by parliament.
“Mr Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to inform my colleague that it’s wrong to say Generals have bush mentality, he is actually not a General so I don’t think he can have that ability to access matters of Generals,” he said.
His response followed the Erute South MP, Jonathan Odur’s question as to whether Generals who fought in the 1980-1986 bush war have ever undergone counselling or medical treatment to help them recover from their ‘bush mentality” because Mr Kyaligonza is not the only bush war General whose conduct is wanting.
Mr Oulanyah asked government to present a comprehensive statement on Mr Kyaligonza’s utterances to the house on Wednesday.
