Kawempe South MP Mubarak Munyagwa has assumed the office of Chairperson of parliament’s Committee on Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), and started off in war-mood by straightaway making tough demands to immediately be given a Vice Chairperson.
“I need a vice chair, that is my right. I need a vice chair, I have to save time to do my own things,” Hon. Munyagwa’s demand goes.
The Kawempe South MP made his demands for a Vice Chairperson public while speaking to the media yesterday, shortly after receiving office and the instruments of power from Bugweri County MP Abdu Katuntu.
The MP said he will continue engaging Speaker Rebecca Kadaga and the Leader of Opposition, Ms Betty Aol over the matter.
During the reshuffle announced by Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Party President Patrick Amuriat, Mr Moses Kasibante (Rubaga South MP) was named as Munyagwa’s deputy.
However, Ms Kadaga, the patron of Independent MPs instead designated Mr Kasibante to the House Committee on Appointments.
Efforts by the opposition leadership in Parliament to overturn the Speaker’s decision have all proved futile, leaving the position of Vice Chairperson vacant.
Asked whether he was agitated, Mr Munyagwa replied…“Feeling what, we have been in these positions before, I am a former mayor [and] we used to hold meetings.”
The MP said that as Mayor for Kawempe Division (between 2011 and 2016), he presided over one of the biggest councils in Kampala with 45 councilors out of whom 33 were from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
“I don’t see anything new,” said Munyagwa.
He added, “Once someone prepares their mind to become a member of a Parliament and once you become an MP it means you have got enough orientation to become anything in this country.”
He emphasised that he has enough experience to steer the committee that watches over Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises to the right direction.
