On Saturday morning, Betty Nambooze, the outspoken Mukono municipality MP, posted on her Facebook page that she had turned down a telephone call from President Museveni.

She argued that if you don’t want to trade with “Satan”, never visit his market.

Nambooze claimed that moments earlier, she had received a call from a person who said he was a Museveni aide alerting her that one of these days she was going to receive a call from Museveni on why she opposes his Constitution Amendment Bill 2017.

Surprised, Nambooze asked the caller whether he knew the person he had called and his answer was in the affirmative.

“We are calling Hon Nambooze of Mukono,” the caller purportedly said.

Disappointed, the caller said Nambooze was unreasonable by turning down such an engagement since other opposition MPs had received it [call] with open hands.

However, when Wolokoso sounded out several opposition MPs to find out whether anyone had received such a call, they doubted the authenticity of Nambooze’s claims.

“Why would Museveni call Nambooze? She is no longer in the leadership of the Buganda caucus; she is not too much into the campaigns against the amendment bill,” said one FDC MP.

“Nambooze could be pulling a stunt or she was being conned by a mufere,” added a DP stalwart.

“If the majority of the MPs on the NRM side have rejected the bill, what will Museveni benefit if he calls Nambooze and she accepts it? I think she is seeking attention,” another MP who declined to be named said.  

Well, whether Nambooze is saying the truth or she is looking for attention, it’s hard to tell.  

Elioda Tumwesigye’s Benz raises eyebrows

Elioda Tumwesigye, the minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, is one of the most humble members of cabinet. Of recent, however, he has become the centre of attention at parliament without even saying a word.

It is his ministerial ride that has got several MPs talking for days and it is an instant head turner every time the government-registered UG 0001 0 black Mercedes Benz enters or leaves the parliament’s gates.

Ironically, many MPs don’t know the man behind the state-of-the-art GLS 350d. For some months, this sleek Merc has been making rounds on social media, with many wondering which cabinet minister was using it.

Well, it is not only social media enthusiasts who were wondering but ministers as well.

At parliament recently, David Bahati, the state minister for Planning, got mesmerised when he saw the posh car parked at parliament. He moved close, wondering who among his cabinet colleagues owns it.

Fortunately, its driver was in the car, which gave chance to the Ndorwa West MP to ask: “Hello, are you the driver? Which minister uses this car?”

The driver responded that it was Elioda Tumwesigye. “So it is Tumwesigye! Eh! He is a tough man, he bought this?” Bahati wondered as he walked towards his Toyota Landcruiser V8 with probably better planning ideas.

A quick search on the internet shows the 2016 SUV model goes for around $70,000 (Shs 252m)