By Isaac Zulu and Merlyn Mwanza
Former Luapula Province permanent secretary Major Ben Phiri has written Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni informing that that he has not received the 20 cows he promised him some 21 years ago, further complaining on the modus operandi of the President’s Principal Private Secretary.
In a letter to President Museveni published in one of the Ugandan newspapers and seen by Daily Revelation, Maj Phiri stated that he hoped that through the newspaper publication, the Ugandan President will learn of his plight and intervene accordingly.
“On 6th April, 2001, at his plush country home in Rwakitura, President Museveni directed that l be given facilitation for 20 cows. At the same occasion he directed one Dr Sam Byagagaire, who must have been holding the position of Agriculture assistant to Mzee, was directed to show me how to use a hand sprayer in controlling ticks considering that the number of cows l would get was small and therefore required no dip tank for the purpose. Dr Byagagaire, referred me to one Mr Linchon who was based at Okello House who also did his part by taking me go places where there was zero grazing and crucially they used hand sprayers . Regrettably that was the time Amelia was on the verge of leaving for the UK,” Maj Phiri stated. “You won’t believe that todate l have NOT been given that facilitation for the 20 cows yet the directive was given 21 years ago! I havd made multiple follow ups with Fox Odoi, Molly Kamukama and Ken Omona but none of these has materialized. As for the current PPS he even stopped picking my calls about mid last year.
“Through this publication l believe President Museveni will learn about my plight and hopefully intervene so that l can access the promised facilitation believing that this will take into account how many cows l would have had by now.”
Giving a background of all the private secretaries he had dealt with, Maj Phiri complained about the conduct of the current occupant whom he said does not even pick his calls.
“My focus today will be on the modus operandi of President Yoweri Museveni’s Principal Private Secretaries responsible for structuring appointments for the number one citizen. If my memory serves me right, on capturing State power in 1986, fhe first PPS to Mzee was Lt ol Serwanga Lwanga who was later succeeded by Eng Kabanda. After Eng Kabanda came Hildah Musubile who was replaced by Amelia Anne Kyambadde who had all this while been Senior Private Secretary (secretarial duties).When Amelia left for the U.K. to pursue further education, Joan Magezi acted as PPS before being replaced by Fox Odoi (in an acting capacity),” stated Maj Phiri. “Upon her return from studies, Amelia resumed her position but shortly after began her civil service exit formalities in preparation for her candidature in Mawokota North which she won convincingly. I attended some of her mobilisation meetings in Mpigi as she rallied the women under the Twenzibe Women Association. Amelia’s position as PPS was taken by one Grace Akello who was herself replaced by Molly Kamukama. Molly was moved to Finance as junior minister and the president appointed the current PPS Dr Kenneth Omona. Out of all the office holders of the PPS position, l only dealt with Hilda Musubile, Fox Odoi, Joan Magezi and of course Amelia Kyambadde and can state with no fear of contradiction that Amelia Anne Kyambadde was by far the best in my opinion.
And in a statement to Daily Revelation, Miao Phiri stated that the fight against corruption includes ensuring transparency in the procurement of drugs and consistent availability of medicines in health facilities as well as transparency in the recruitment of teachers and nurses.
“Like he said after being sworn in, Mr Kamalata will undoubtedly be a useful and dependable aly in the aggressive fight against corruption and President Hakainde Hichilema could not possibly have made a better choice for the capital city chief executive than the work addicted Robert Kamalata. In any case, the aggregate results of a sustainable corruption fight are numerically multiple and include but not limited to stimulating the resuscitation of the manufacturing sector, ensuring consistent availability of medicines in hospitals, transparency and predictable enrollment of teachers and nurses countrywide, paying of retirees on time, etcetera,” stated Major Phiri, adding that the new Lusaka PS possesses aptitude and unwavering patriotism. “Robert Kamalata, the newly appointed Lusaka Province permanent secretary, is imbued with very rare qualities paramount of which is his natural humility attributes even when among people ordinarily far below his civil service position. For a person who discharged his functions as senior private secretary to the Republican Vice President, his courtesy levels at the time he served in that capacity were, and still, remain absolutely lofty. Mr Kamalata his career as a secondary teacher of English and History in Eastern Province in the mid 90s and todate both his former students and fellow teachers continue to acknowledge his aptitude and unwavering patriotism over anything else. His appointment as Lusaka Province permanent secretary will indeed speedily change the complexion of the capital city for the better; as Mr Kamalata is known for his hard work and unfaltering desire to get things done.”
