Africa-Press – Uganda. Buyaga West Member of Parliament, Barnabas Tinkasimire, has raised concerns about the effectiveness and underlying intent of the ongoing National Resistance Movement (NRM) parliamentary retreat in Kyankwanzi, questioning whether it adequately addresses issues affecting Ugandans.
Speaking on NBS Frontline on Thursday, Tinkasimire reflected on his past experiences at similar retreats, citing instances where key proposals were overlooked.
“In my first term in Parliament, we developed a well-researched proposal to reduce the government fleet as a cost-saving measure to improve service delivery. The proposal was presented during the Kyankwanzi retreat, but it was not taken up as a main agenda item,” he said.
He noted that this experience led him to question the actual purpose of the retreat.
“Later, I realized that Kyankwanzi is largely used for public relations purposes. The convener appears to have other motives beyond addressing substantive national issues,” Tinkasimire added.
The legislator further challenged the relevance of discussions held at the retreat, questioning whether concerns raised by MPs are genuinely considered and implemented.
“As a Member of Parliament, you attend the retreat on behalf of your constituents to raise critical issues. But the question remains: are those issues listened to and acted upon?” he asked.
Tinkasimire also pointed to growing uncertainty among participants regarding internal party dynamics, particularly the leadership’s position on the upcoming Speakership race.
According to him, “The NRM Party Chairman has placed members attending the retreat in a difficult position, as many are unclear about where he stands in the race.”
His remarks were echoed by Bugweri County MP, Abdul Katuntu, who questioned whether newly elected legislators fully understand their party’s national agenda.
“The norm has always been that MPs promise all sorts of things which aren’t part of their party agenda,” Katuntu said, urging them to focus on legislative priorities rather than internal leadership disputes.
Responding to the criticism, NRM Director of Communication, Emmanuel Lumala Dombo, expressed disappointment with Tinkasimire’s remarks.
“It is surprising that he comes to TV and says that for the last 20 years NRM has done nothing, yet he has been an NRM MP during that time,” Dombo said.
He added that the retreat is essential in guiding MPs from diverse professional backgrounds on parliamentary processes and legislative responsibilities.
The retreat, held at the National Leadership Institute Kyankwanzi, runs from April 7 to April 15 and brings together both newly elected and returning legislators under the NRM banner ahead of the swearing-in of Uganda’s 12th Parliament.
It serves as a key orientation platform, focusing on governance priorities, legislative procedures, and national development strategies, while also aligning party members on policy direction and strengthening internal cohesion.
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