President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has summoned a National Resistance Movement– NRM Parliamentary Caucus meeting, set for Thursday, September 28th, 2023, at State House, Entebbe. An invitation letter, authored by Denis Hamson Obua, the Government Chief Whip and Chairperson of the NRM Parliamentary Caucus, has directed all 336 Caucus members to undergo a mandatory Coronavirus test at Parliament, which ends today at 5:00 pm.
“Only members who have taken the test with the prescribed service provider at the Parliamentary Conference Hall B will be allowed to attend the meeting,” reads part of the Government Chief Whip’s letter, September 26th letter. The letter did not specify the agenda for the meeting, which is scheduled to commence at noon and will be chaired by the President, who also serves as the Chairperson of the ruling NRM party.
The primary function of the Caucus is to deliberate and adopt a common position on parliamentary matters before they are presented for debate in the House. When a common position is adopted, Caucus members are expected to support that position during parliamentary sessions. The most recent Caucus meeting took place in May at the National Leadership Institute – NALI, Kyankwanzi, where the President encouraged legislators to promote the Parish Development Model – PDM in their respective constituencies.
Alex Brandon Kintu, the NRM Caucus Spokesperson, informed said the meeting aims to review the progress made in implementing the party’s 2021-2026 manifesto. The party’s priorities include creating wealth and jobs, providing education and healthcare, ensuring justice and equity, protecting life and property, and achieving economic and political integration.
However, anonymous sources within the Caucus revealed that some of the key agenda items may include addressing issues such as the influx of Balalo pastoralists in Northern Uganda, the ongoing ethnic tensions between the Madi and Acholi communities over the ownership of Apaa land, and concerns about corruption in the country.
