First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga and State Minister for Lands Persis Namuganza skipped a National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders’ meeting chaired by President Yoweri Museveni in Iganga, citing failure to receive invitations.
The two leaders were notably absent from the meeting held at Iganga Secondary School playgrounds, where President Museveni met NRM leaders from the Busoga sub-region.
According to Museveni, the absence of Kadaga and Namuganza was linked to internal divisions within Busoga’s NRM leadership and an alleged failure by Speaker of Parliament Anita Among who also serves as the NRM National Vice Chairperson (Female) to invite them.
“Because of the divisions here in Busoga, Namuganza is not here. I spoke to my young sister Rebecca Kadaga and asked her whether she was coming for the meeting. She told me she was not invited,” Museveni said.
Museveni revealed that he contacted Speaker Among to inquire why Kadaga had not been invited.
“She told me that all flag bearers were invited. You know I always act as a mediator. I called her again and told her that Kadaga said she was not invited. She asked me, ‘How did they invite me through radio or what?’” Museveni recounted.
The President added that upon arriving at the venue, he again questioned how Kadaga had been invited.
However, this publication has learned that all NRM flag bearers were informed about the meeting through District Internal Security Officers (DISOs) and Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), who were tasked with communicating the invitation.
Addressing leaders at the meeting, Museveni urged unity, warning that leadership infighting was hurting ordinary citizens.
“What I advise you is that poor people need unity among leaders because you are delaying their exit from poverty by not working together. The ones who suffer are the poor. When rich people quarrel, they are in cars, good houses, and they can afford to quarrel,” Museveni said.
