Prime
Woman storms ‘high level’ policy meeting on tax over remarks made by Museveni representative
What you need to know:
The development comes just days after trade minister, Ms Amelia Kyambadde was attacked in a similar manner while speaking at a Nordic Uganda business conference in Oslo, Norway.
Ms Nalongo Nana, a business woman in Kampala Friday morning stormed a ‘high level’ policy meeting on tax to express her displeasure following a comment made by President Museveni’s representative that leaders are supposed to be taken care of by the citizens and not the other way round.
About 30 minutes after the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Mukono , Mr Fred Bamwine, in a live broadcast of the High Level Policy Dialogue on Tax Policy, said that it was the responsibility of the citizens to take care of them (leaders), Nalongo as she later identified herself stormed the meeting venue at Protea Hotel in Kampala.
She grabbed the microphone, and passionately proceeded to make her feelings known for about 7-10mins.
She asked: “Do you people think that we have no feelings. Are we not human beings?”
She continued: “I came here after watching somebody who is a leader saying that we are supposed to take care of them. So who will take care of us?”
After driving her point home in the best way she knows—rant, she handed over the microphone and received a round of applause which she milked for a couple of seconds before being whisked away.
In her animated plea, that the Abim Resident District Commissioner, Mr Hashaka Mpimbaza in an interview described as uncontrollable and indiscipline of the highest order, she raised issues around the high cost of living and education that she is grappling with as government looks on helplessly.
“Who is taking care of Uganda?” she rhetorically asked, before proceeding to narrate how she is struggling to raise fees for her children.
Apology
The State Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mr David Bahati who looked rather taken aback by the development, apologised for the remarks made by Mr Bamwine, saying it was insensitive and inappropriate.
Mr Bahati who was the chief guest, said: “I apologise on Behalf of Mr Bamwine and he should withdraw that statement because that is not how it is supposed to be. Leaders are supposed to serve and not the other way round.”
By the time Ms Nana stormed the meeting organised by Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), an independent public policy research and advocacy think-tank, to discuss tax policy among other related topics, Mr Bamwine was long gone.
The development comes just days after trade minister, Ms Amelia Kyambadde
while speaking at a Nordic Uganda business conference in Oslo, Norway.
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Ms Kyambadde, who previously served as President Museveni’s Private Secretary, was addressing Ugandans living in Norway who instead accused her of being corrupt, which she denies.
In an earlier version of this story, we stated that the woman in this video was Ms Nana Kagga. It is not and we apologise for the inconvenience caused to her.