In a surprising turn of events during the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Caucus meeting on Thursday, President Yoweri Museveni called upon Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and Vice President Jessica Alupo to provide a detailed account of the expenses incurred during their recent trip to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
The meeting, which initially focused on issues of corruption and government resource management, took an unexpected twist when a group of MPs redirected the conversation toward the extravagant government spending associated with the UNGA trip, which had ignited public outrage.
Prior to the formal Caucus session, Prime Minister Nabbanja had gathered a group of anxious legislators and regaled them with dramatic tales of her escapades in New York and her encounters with towering skyscrapers. Her storytelling prowess seemed to captivate the legislators, momentarily diverting their attention from their original intention of addressing financial matters.
However, once the official Caucus proceedings commenced, the MPs wasted no time in pressing for an explanation, prompting President Museveni to summon Prime Minister Nabbanja and Vice President Alupo to clarify the situation.
Nabbanja, apparently caught off guard, quickly shifted the blame back to President Museveni, asserting that he had approved the travel but emphasized that their delegation was relatively small, including only one journalist.
She went on to express her disappointment at her travel's limited productivity, insinuating that Vice President Alupo had been globe-trotting excessively, drawing a contrast between her own uneventful trip and Alupo's seemingly action-packed schedule.
In response, Vice President Alupo took the floor and enthusiastically recounted her recent engagements, including visits to Cuba, serious meetings in South Africa, representation in New York, a trip to Israel, and her presence in Qatar. Her speech was marked by a mix of self-assuredness and the diligent execution of her duties, culminating in her announcement that Uganda was being considered as a host for the G7 summit. The MPs responded with somewhat confused applause.
President Museveni eventually intervened, assuming the role of a concerned parent, and sought to defuse the tension. He took responsibility for sending both the Prime Minister and the Vice President on their respective missions and asked them to clarify their purpose to the MPs.
"Explain to these people why I sent you?" Museveni demanded repeatedly, according to a source present at the Caucus.
However, the explanations offered by Nabbanja and Alupo failed to satisfy the MPs, and the matter was eventually overshadowed by other topics of discussion, notably President Museveni's focus on issues related to money lenders.
The UNGA trip expenses and the subsequent demand for accountability continue to be a subject of public scrutiny in Uganda, with many eagerly awaiting further developments in this unfolding story.
