Uganda’s Vice President, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi has said that advising President Yoweri Museveni on how to run the country isn’t part of his constitutional duties.
Ssekandi made the remarks Thursday on his Twitter handle during an engagement with his followers.
The exchange started when the VP sent out a tweet of his meeting with Pope Francis.
He tweeted: “After attending the Canonisation Mass of Pope Paul VI with six Others, I was pleased to meet His Holiness Pope Francis who had led the Canonisation Mass.”
Ssekandi was in Rome, Italy leading Uganda’s Delegation attending the Canonisation of Pope Paul VI as a Saint.
However, one his followers, a one Josephine Ninsiima wondered why Ssekandi only settles for the ceremonial role, instead of using his position to give good counsel to President Museveni.
“Your only purpose is to represent Ugandans on functions. When will you ever make yourself as Vice President and advise your brother Kaguta Museveni on the right path to take and on all the wrong decisions his making?” Ninsiima replied to Ssekandi’s tweet.
The VP replied: “Thanks for your advise. You will observe however that Article 108 of the constitution clearly stipulates the role of a Vice President.”
Article 108(a) highlights duties of Vice President as thus; “Deputise for the President as and when the need arises; and (b) perform such other functions as may be assigned to him or her by the President, or as may be conferred on him or her by this Constitution.
Ninsiima wasn’t satisfied by Ssekandi’s response, saying: “Does the constitution insist while you stipulate some roles, you ignore those that require immediate attention and your input. You have never addressed anything on the serial killers, nor violence or torture in the economy.”
However, Ssekandi chose to ignore her questions. Another follower, a one, Paul Aruho chose to ask the VP about his coloured suit.
“Where did your multi-coloured coat go? You would have looked super smart.”
Ssekandi answered: “Thanks for your observation. The coat is for National/ State Functions like opening of Parliament.”
In June 2016, Ssekandi sent tongues wagging when he came for the State of Nation address dressed in a coat branded in black, yellow and red which are the colours of the Uganda flag.
Records from Twitter indicate that the Vice President joined the Social Media site in July 2014 and has only sent out 122 tweets, has only 480 followers and is only following 38 people among these being former Premier Amama Mbabazi, Joe Biden former Vice President of United States, former US President Barack Obama but no top Government official has ever bothered to follow Ssekandi on Twitter.
