By Yasiin Sserwanja
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja on Saturday sounded off on her junior minister in charge of General Duties Justine Kasule Lumumba for traveling to the US without her permission.
Amid harsh scrutiny from the public and questions from President Yoweri Museveni over the recent extravagant trip to the US by Nabbanja, VP Jessica Alupo, Minister Lumumba, and a delegation of over 70 officials, the Prime Minister came out today to disclose that she did not grant approval for Minister Kasule Lumumba to travel to New York.
Nabbanja also emphasized that all expenses incurred during Lumumba’s trip would not be covered by taxpayer funds. The Ugandan delegation was in the US to attend the just concluded United Nations General Assembly. Listen here for more information
During the NRM caucus meeting in Entebbe, President Yoweri Museveni tasked both Nabbanja and Alupo with explaining the situation. In response, they claimed that they had each traveled with a delegation of only five people. Additionally, reports indicated that many of those who traveled to New York did not actively participate in UN activities.
But in the interview today, Prime Minister Nabbanja criticized Minister Lumumba for traveling abroad without her clearance, despite previously sending her to New York as part of the advance team for trip preparations.
Nabbanja clarified that Lumumba was not authorized to attend the main event.
“She went on her own. We do not have a minister in charge of SDGs in Uganda. She is self-appointing herself here and should follow my directives. I granted her permission to go in July for preparations, but I informed her that I would be going this time. So she used her own funds for the trip, and I will not reimburse her.”
Furthermore, Nabbanja questioned Lumumba’s decision to travel despite being present at the meeting where the Prime Minister announced her own travel plans.
Nabbanja urged Lumumba to refrain from bringing her past political battles, particularly as NRM Secretary General, into their official business at the Office of the Prime Minister. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [whatsapp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at [email protected]).
