By Andrew Irumba
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit has suffered another setback after residents of Kololo posh area, through their lawyers; Kamulegeya,Kamahoro Advocates and another law firm, Kisaalu Advocates petitioned the ministry of foreign affairs and the Indian High Commissioner in Uganda protesting the venue where they had planned to host one of the most influential political figures on earth.
The organizers of the event had planned to host Mr.Modi at kololo airstrip which they said was big enough to accommodate the hundreds of Modi’s diehards in Uganda.
According to the petitioners, this venue is bad enough not to host such a high profile figure without proper facilities like toilets, kitchen etc.
“We the under signed here in of C/O \Kisaalo and \company Advocates,being persons intimately interested in the timely visit of the Hon.prime minister of India to Uganda, do here by forward our compliments and duly submit our petition/complaint in respect of the above matter as follws; That the selected venue is wanting in facility terms of toilets, kitchen materials and great inconvenience from the neighborhood all that is likely to affect the health of our beloved Prime minister,” read part of the petitioners’ petition seen by this reporter addressed to Internal affairs ministry and Indian High commission.
The petitioners also accuse the organizers of lack of transparency of the monies so far collected. “the organizers of the event have not exhibited any transparency and honesty but only intended to benefit a few people at the expense of the common good of the entire Indian community in Uganda and Uganda as awhole,” they continued in their petition.
Modi is slated to fly into the country on Tuesday July 24, 2018 and will be hosted by President Museveni at State House Entebbe.
He will then address Parliament at 10:00am, on Wednesday July 25, 2018 and thereafter is expected to meet Indian community in Uganda at Kololo airstrip.
But according to a copy of the petition seen by TheSpy Uganda, petitioners through their counsel,Rogers Kamulegeya expressed great concern against hosting Narendra at Kololo airstrip.
“We therefore take exception in the manner of selection of the said venue as we strongly believe that the process of selection was tainted with great irregularities and connivance,” they concluded.
Preparations for Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s visit have of recent been marred by corruption scandals involving among others, former NRM’s deputy treasurer Singh Katongole, divisionism among the Indian community in Uganda and connivance of hiring services providers where costs have been inflated.
Some sections had threatened to stay away from the preparations for his visit citing lack of inclusion, poor accountability and the manner in which the organizing committee was picked for the preparations.
