KAMPALA- Vice President, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi has revealed that advising President Yoweri Museveni on how to run Uganda isn’t part of his constitutional duties.
Ssekandi made the revelation on his Twitter handle after an engagement with one of his followers who criticized the Vice President for only settling for the ceremonial role, instead of using his position to give counsel to President Museveni.
The exchange followed a tweet sent out by Ssekandi Wednesday revealing details about his meeting with Pope Francis writing, “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.”
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. pic.twitter.com/8zEP3HCD2T
— Edward Ssekandi (@ESsekandi) October 16, 2018
One Twitter user by the names of Josephine Ninsiima replied to Ssekandi’s tweet stating, “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?”
The Vice President didn’t hold back in his response asserting, “Thanks for your advice. You will observe however that Article 108 of the constitution clearly stipulates the role of a Vice President.”
Indeed, the said article 108(a) highlights duties of Vice President; “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.
However, Ninsiima wasn’t satisfied by Ssekandi’s response and pushed further with another question asking, “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.”
Your only purpose is to represent #Ugandans on functions.
when will you ever make yourself as vice president and advise your brother @KagutaMuseveni on the right path to take and on all the wrong decisions his making @GovUganda @StateHouseUg @VOAShaka @ntvuganda @Atulinda_Allan— ninsiima josephine (@ninsiijo) October 16, 2018
Ssekandi ignored Nansiima’s questions and another Twitter user Arthur Mukiibi tasked her to leave the Vice President alone writing, “Omusajja wa Mukama bwomuvwako, (why don’t you leave the man of God) cut him some slack.”
However, it wasn’t only Ninsiima involved in an exchange with Ssekandi but another Twitter user, Paul Aruho asked the Vice President about his closet choice, “Where did your multi-coloured coat go? You would have looked super smart.”
The Vice President answered: “Thanks for your observation. The coat is for National/ State Functions like the opening of Parliament.”
Thanks for your advise. You will observe however that Article 108 of the constitution clearly stipulates the role of a Vice President.
— Edward Ssekandi (@ESsekandi) October 17, 2018
In June 2016, Ssekandi sent tongues wagging when he came for the State of Nation address dressed in a coat branded in black, yellow, red which are the colours of the Uganda flag.
His choice of court generated both uproar and jokes with some members of the public comparing it to mattress cover.
Ssekandi was in Rome, Italy leading Uganda’s Delegation attending the Canonisation of Pope Paul VI as a Saint.
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 38people 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