By Mulengera Reporters
Saying he is the one who had been designated to represent the outgoing PLU Secretary General at the Tuesday handover ceremony at the League’s headquarters in Naguru, Igara County MP Michael Mawanda explained why the outgoing Secretary General David Kabanda was personally absent as his successor Fadil Twalla took office.
Before proceeding to read out Kabanda’s written speech as was given to him, Hon Mawanda explained how Kabanda was unable to be there physically because he had travelled abroad and wasn’t in the country as of Wednesday.
As the clearly indifferent audience went about their business, chatting with those who sat next to them, Mawanda read out Kabanda’s brief written message as follows. He thanked Gen MK for the opportunity to serve as PLU’s pioneer SG, a job he said wasn’t very easy for him given the fact that this was the first time such an assignment was being given to anyone.
Kabanda, being a pioneer SG, served without any reference since he had no predecessor. Kabanda run through what had happened during his tenure and proceeded to wish his successor productive service. The event was attended by Speaker Oboth-Oboth as the chief guest and his Deputy Thomas Tayebwa. Both of them were recently appointed special envoys in PLU, a thing that created controversy on media platforms. Oboth-Oboth called on PLU adherents to forgive Kabanda for whatever might have gone wrong during his tenure as SG, asserting that err is human. He said he was proud of the high standards Kabanda had set at PLU.
Several Ministers were present too including Jane Ruth Aceng, Frank Tumwebaze, Peter Ogwang, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, Harriet Ntabazi, Diana Mutasingwa, Tom Aleru, Balaam Barugahara, Phiona Nyamutoro and others. Hundreds of MPs were present too as were several NRM CEC members. Pastor Aloysius Bugingo led a large group of clerics who represented the different faith groups.
Frank Gashumba caused quite a stir when he praised Gen MK for giving PLU a new Secretary General Fadil Twalla, replacing David Kabanda whose end of duty he likened to liberation day in Patriotic League of Uganda.
Chairman Toyota Nuwagira welcomed the new SG and made it clear they are hopeful that there will be less intrigue and the apex leadership of PLU will now be more cohesive going forward. Toyota also recognized Jane Ruth Aceng for being one of the very senior Ministers who embraced PLU much earlier on. He also called on the new SG to be humble, be accessible and make the PLU Secretariat accessible to PLU food soldiers rather than alienate them.
Chairman Toyota added that they are looking forward to working with Jane Ruth Aceng very closely as the new Government Chief Whip ‘to take PLU to a whole new level.’ Chairman Toyota also thanked the pro-PLU MPs for their generous contribution, which enabled him to raise the Shs50m budget that was used to fund the Wednesday hand over event. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
