16.Jul.2007

The Minister of Local Government, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire has hit back at the media, following reports that he has fallen out with government and is about to be sacked from cabinet.

The Red Pepper, a local tabloid on Saturday reported that President Museveni had ordered for the arrest of Otafiire over the Nakasero market saga.

Today, the tabloid claimed that the minister had shunned the five-day NRM retreat at the national school of political education, Kyankwazi.

But in his typical tongue lashing style, an angry Otafiire described the Red Pepper reports as useless.

Otafiire said that as a government minister, he would take responsibility for anything bad or good and would never engage in subversion.

He denied holding any illegal meetings in his house with former Minister of Health, Maj.Gen. Jim Muhwezi, former Secretary General of the East African Community Col. Amanya Mushega and FDC leader Colonel Kiiza Besigye, as the paper reported.

The Minister explained that he could not go to Kyankwanzi, because he was attending to one of his sick children.