KAMPALA – Former Uganda People’s Congress President Olara Otunnu has blasted Senior Presidential Advisor on Media John Nagenda for failing to respond to issues as the two traded exchanges over the government’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The exchange climaxed after a rejoinder by Mr. Nagenda, whose writing in his column in the Saturday Vision of May 30 in response to a May 22 incisive criticism of President Museveni’s led response to the Coronavirus pandemic by Mr. Otunnu, referred to the former UN diplomat as an “Ivorian”.
Mr. Nagenda wrote:
“It is to his country’s credit (minus Olara) that Uganda mostly followed in each of Museveni’s footsteps. Where he led us, we followed; even when grumbling was often heard from the Otunnu’s and their kind!”
Mr. Ottunu has since hit back, labeling Mr. Nagenda’s effort as “padding”.
“John studiously avoided addressing any of the specific issues I raised, concerning coronavirus. Instead, he unleashed a fury of abuse, choice epithets and falsehoods, under the heading “Replying to Ivorian Olara”. My teachers (and John’s) at Budo, would have severely marked him down, for ‘padding’!”
Mr. Otunnu added:
“Although Mr. Museveni has promulgated many measures, he has remained silent on some of the most consequential issues. These include relief for families in great distress; a serious stimulus package, whose beneficiaries must include small-scale farmers and informal business operators; a special fund for immediate support for medical service and medical staff; overhauling of 2020/21 budget, including reallocation of the massive “classified” secret expenditures; submitting presidential promulgations to scrutiny by Parliament; and providing a coherent roadmap, instead of ad hoc interventions”.
PML Daily has published Ambassador Otunnu’s two missives in the Op-Ed section of the website after obtaining copyright from the veteran diplomat.
