By Mulengera Reporters
For unknown reasons, President Museveni has always harbored a silent discomfort about Sheema Municipality MP Dickson Kateshumbwa.
Sources say that the President became uncomfortable with Kateshumbwa the moment he read intelligence reports portraying him to have shrewdly used his time at URA to become a super rich person.
Indeed, when he won his 2021 race and became Member of Parliament after overcoming ex-Minister Elioda Tumwesigye, Kateshumbwa’s supporters and well wishers began to imagine it was a sure deal he was going to be made a Minister.
This never happened as Gen Museveni had a totally different opinion about the self-professed pundit on economic and tax matters. As Head of Government business in Parliament, Premier Robinah Nabbanja got down to draw up lists of MPs who would be chairing different committees. She closely worked with Thomas Tayebwa who was the Government Chief Whip as of that time.
Being senior, knowledgeable and one of the most exposed legislators from the NRM caucus, Kateshumbwa was agreed upon and put on that list to chair one of the influential Committees. But when the list was taken to Gen Museveni for consultation and his input, the big man from Rwakitura crossed out his name and never bothered explaining himself to Nabbanja and the leadership of Parliament as to why he had done this.
Since that time, the highly qualified Kateshumbwa has had to console himself with being a mere Committee member to Budget and others Committees, which the ruling party is mandated to control.
Even after being disregarded all this long by the President, Kateshumbwa has evidently not given up. He has remained determined and focussed in his politics. He is currently working hard, though still clandestinely, to become the new ruling NRM Party Chairman for Western region.
This means he wants to oust Chris Baryomunsi, the gigantic big man from Kanungu who inherited the seat from Gen Matayo Kyaligonza of Bunyoro sub region. This is something Government Spokesman Ofwono Opondo confronted Kateshumbwa about last Saturday as they left the Capital Radio premises after the end of the Capital Gang program.
Opondo feels obliged to be there for his immediate political supervisor Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister of ICT & National Guidance where his Uganda Media Center belongs and not under State House or President’s Office anymore. Besides, Kateshumbwa, long-serving Workers MP Arinaitwe Rwakajara is the other eminent Movementist eyeing Chris Baryomunsi’s CEC position.
In case he still wants Baryomunsi there, Gen Museveni will most likely talk Rwakajara out of the race (and possibly make him state minister something) while leaving the unwanted Katshumbwa to be devoured at the political altar during the National Conference of the Movement during which tens of thousands of delegates come together to vote such apex leaders. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
