By Mulengera Reporters
Renowned for buying off political opponents in the hope that such can appease his master Gen YK Museveni and increase his political relevancy, Minister Balaam on Wednesday told Parliament that the fallen Kalangala Woman MP Hellen Nakimuli, whose memory the house had convened to celebrate, was a genuine opposition person who was beyond compromise.
He revealed that he repeatedly engaged her and tried several times to pay her off so that she joins NRM and departs NUP but she consistently said no. All that notwithstanding, Balaam said Nakimuli remained cordial and a liberal politician who understood that political differences didn’t amount to enmity.
He made reference to Biblical scriptures in order to encourage the family members to be strong because as a practicing Christian, Hellen Nakimuli hadn’t entirely died but had only transited to the other world.
In the same eulogy, Balaam called upon the Speaker to direct each MP to contribute Shs500,000 to help feed the children and family members of fallen Ngora Woman MP Stella Isodo of FDC. He revealed that people close to the family recently stormed his office as Minister for children and youth affairs demanding that he contributes money towards the family’s sustenance. That he was told the family had fallen on hard times and that they were struggling to make ends meet, barely six months since the death of Isodo who was their sole bread winner.
The MPs, who were already hurting after earlier on being cajoled by the Speaker and Peter Ogwang to each part with Shs500,000 towards the education of Nakimuli’s only child (Ssuubi who is currently an S1 student at Kibuli) protested and wildly heckled as Balaam demanded they cough another Shs500,000 for Isodo’s family.
Among correctly read their contribution fatigue and simply disregarded Balaam’s proposal which he had sought to justify on grounds that the elderly Isodo had equally been active in the Parliament’s sporting activities as was the case with Nakimuli. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
