By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
PARLIAMENT:
Ugandan minister for Science, Technology and Innovation has shocked parliament after she disclosed that Kiira Motors and the national army (UPDF) have never manufuctured any vehicles as they claim.
Dr. Musenero revealed that Uganda does not manufucture vehicles as many individual gruops claim to be manufucturing vehicles inland.
Musenero was responding to MPs concerns on ministerial statement ahead of the world Science that will take place at Kololo ceremonial grounds on November 10.
“Kiira Motors sources component parts both internally and through imports to make Kayoola Buses and the strategy is to be able to make 65 percent of the bus locally by 2030.” Dr. Musenero said.
Last month, the commander of the UPDF lands Forces Lt. Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba also the president’s son said the president commissioned an infantry fighting vehicle that he claimed was manufuctured by the forces.
“Land Forces was honoured yesterday when the president and Commander in Chief commissioned our latest Infantry Fighting Vehicle, “Chui”. It was fully designed and manufuctured in Uganda. God Bless Uganda,” Kainerugaba said.
But, the Science, Technology and Innovation minister Dr. Musenero has refuted both claims noting that Uganda only imports and uses a few local raw-materials to assemble the cars not manufucturing. She says that the ministry will hold a science Innovators Award in a two days exhibition starting on November 8, which will lead to the World Science Day on November10th at Kololo ceremonial grounds. The president is expected to preside over the ceremony as the Chief Guest.
During the heat debate, the Kampala Central member of Parliament Muhammed Nsereko asked the minister to consider decentralizing the innovation fund to allow more young Ugandans at the local level to access this fund and develop their innovations.
Debating on the minister’s presented statement, however, the Kira Municipality member of Parliament Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda contravened with other legislators when he demanded the minister to explain to the house on the completion of the ministry’s transition to State House.
“I had thought the first thing she should have told parliament whwther the transition has been completed , I do not like why Africans like ceremonies,” Hon. Ssemujju demanded.
“We passed a resolution here because the minister moved to state house ahead of the ministry, we passed a resolution here transferring both the ministry and budget to go and meet the minister where she had gone,” says Ssemujju.
This prompted the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anitah Amongi , who had chaired the plenary to give direct the minister to come back to the house with a comprehensive report on the transition progress and innovation fund in two weeks.
“We are giving you time to come back to the house in two weeks to give information on the transition progress of the ministry and the innovation fund and how it is accessed,” Deputy Speaker Amongi said.
