Shock As Some MPs Back UN Move To Shift Base To Nairobi

Parliament turned dramatic when a section of MPs mainly from opposition backed United Nations (UN) plan to shift its base from Entebbe (Uganda) to Nairobi Kenya.

The motion for a resolution of Parliament to urge Government to intensify engagement of essential diplomatic channels to convince the United Nations General Assembly to retain the UN base in Entebbe was first tabled on Tuesday by Lwemiyaga County MP, Theodore Ssekikubo.

The motion followed a letter authored by UN Secretary General, António Guterres on 1^st May 2018 making recommendations to the UN Advisory Committee to shift the UN base from Entebbe to Nairobi.

While many NRM MPs supported Ssekikubo’s motion, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, the Kira Municipality MP and some opposition MPs shocked their colleagues when they rejected the motion, saying Uganda should be celebrating because UN has been occupying Entebbe without paying rent.

“The point that this Parliament must be addressing is that the Auditor General has been complaining that UN doesn’t want to pay at Entebbe. We should be celebrating that UN is leaving because they occupy our facility for free,” Ssemujju said.

He added: “I don’t want to be part of those who want to be given handouts and tokens, I want merit. At the time they were coming here, there were reasons. Today, they have found reasons to leave. We must make Uganda a very attractive country.”

The FDC lawmaker argued that Uganda should not safeguard its commercial interests out of sympathy yet Nairobi, a regional capital has all the advantages to house the United Nations.

“There was no resolution of Parliament when UN was coming here. The UN should leave because this is a service center; they must go where it is convenient. If we made our country attractive like Kenyans have, there would be many more regional offices opening up in Uganda,” Ssemujju reasoned.

Francis Mwijukye, the Buhweju County MP backed Ssemujju, noting that instead of Parliament lamenting about UN’s departure and campaigning for its stay, the August House should concentrate at cleaning up why it and other international companies are leaving Uganda.

Makindye West MP, Allan Ssewanyana joined the debate,  blaming the UN debacle on the statements made by President Yoweri Museveni, calling on those close to him to caution him on the utterances he makes, saying the international community is using them as excuses to vacate Uganda.

However, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga ruled Ssewanyana out of order, describing his statements as irrelevant to the debate as the House was looking for solutions on how to ensure UN changes its mind on shifting its base to Nairobi.

Why MPs Want Base Retained in Uganda

The mover of the motion, Ssekikubo pointed out that Uganda is a key player at the international scene as it has been at the forefront of addressing the international refugee crisis being host to 1.3M asylum seekers and having troops to Somalia , Liberia, DRC, South Sudan, Chad and Central African Republic.

“Uganda is on trial; Uganda stands to lose and be humiliated. How if Uganda is to reconsider its participation in international missions? The UN is tempting us. The UN is pushing us to the wall. If you can’t reciprocate, the principal of reciprocity is critical and central in this matter. Let UN reciprocate Uganda’s open handedness,” he said, adding that Kenya is trying to abuse the ‘sisterly’ relationship it enjoys with Uganda.

He pointed out the fact that Kenya already houses a number of UN Agencies such as UN Habitant, UNEP and therefore, consideration should be given over equitable distribution of UN functions and facilities in different member states.

Speaker Kadaga called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inform the UN boss António Guterres that the theme for the SDG Goals emphasizes not leaving any nation behind when it comes to development, and therefore, his proposal to shift base to Nairobi would mean Uganda is being left behind.

“If they close this center, they are going to leave thousands of Uganda families behind. He is in breach of the SDGs,” Kadaga said.

Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda thanked majority MPs for throwing their support towards the motion. He informed Parliament that the decision will be taken in two months’ time in the coming UN General Assembly.