Museveni has summoned NRM Caucus

The National Resistance Movement party boss President Yoweri Museveni has summoned party Members of Parliament for an urgent Parliamentary caucus meeting. The same invitation has been extended to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) who subscribe to the ruling party.

“The purpose of this meeting is to interact with His Excellency the President and chairman of the NRM Party on matters of national importance, Only members who will have taken the test with the prescribed service provider at the parliamentary conference hall will attend” Tayebwa said.

The meeting comes amidst concerns over skyrocketing prices of essential commodities like sugar, cooking oil, soap and fuel among others.

Last week, the President attributed the soaring commodity prices partly to the Russia-Ukraine invasion.

“Some of the soaring prices are caused by the ongoing conflict in Europe, specially the tensions between Russia and Ukraine, like wheat because these are the biggest producers,” he said

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister Hon Robinah Nabbanja attributed the escalating prices of essential commodities on effects of the covid 19 pandemic.

While addressing journalists outside Parliament on Tuesday morning, Nabbanja explained that the prices are skyrocketing because of the global crisis that has not only affected Uganda but the neighbouring countries as well. She says there is an overwhelming global demand for raw materials from manufacturers by many countries following the lock-down on Covid 19.

The opposition including the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has accused the government of playing blame games as the country is hit hard by a  hike in prices of essential commodities.

Museveni has summoned NRM Caucus

Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, the FDC spokesperson, says for months now, the prices of essential goods doubled over what he termed as increase in taxes on raw materials and imports.

Why President Museveni has called an NRM Caucus meeting claims the government is arm twisting people into believing that the sky rocketing prices are resulting from the ongoing war in Ukraine. He claims that the President, Yoweri Museveni lied to the public last week when he attributed the increase in prices to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“The truth of the matter is that prices have steadily been going up for months now. For example the price of petrol rose from Shs3800 to Shs5000 towards the end of year and has never gone down. At the time, truck drivers who had refused to pay for Covid-19 test at the Kenya border were blamed,Mr. Museveni, if you have been sleeping and you were awoken by the Russian invasion of Ukraine please know this problem has been ongoing. You must now think of real measures to ease the situation,” he said.

PDM

The President is also expected to explore more on the issue of the Parish Development Model (PDM). Government injected Shs 490 billion PDM meant to the project that seeks to target developmental activities at the parishes. It was piloted in Bukedi sub region, where every parish will get 100 million shillings.
Under this arrangement, PDM groups will form in groups of 10-30 persons that will select a unique and profitable enterprise. Groups will be required to elect leaders who will join other leaders to create interim leadership at Parish level. These group leaders join with others in the Parish to form a Sacco on behalf of other members. They later open accounts, two family members can request a loan, and get approved by Parish committee.
However there has been complaints from the public over inequitable distribution of the money because some parishes have larger populations than others.