Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire has said he isn’t happy with honors and awards committee.
Gen. Otafiire said the committee didn’t invite him to receive the award and the same applies to some of the intended recipients who didn’t turn up.
Asked why he skipped the annual event in Buike where he was awarded the Kabalega honors, Otafiire said, it was never his fault but those best suited to answer are the awards committee.
“My comment is that I am disappointed with the awards committee. I was never informed on time. I actually got to know that I was on the list when a journalist called me for a comment.” Gen. Otafiire told EagleOnline.
Another notable person who missed the event due to the same reason is former Minister of Information and National Guidance Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi. Gen. Muhwezi in response to his failure to attend the function said he was never informed.
More than 650 people were awarded with medals for their distinguished service to the country.
The awardees received their medals from President Yoweri Museveni at a function to mark the National Heroes day. This year’s Heroes day celebration was commemorated at Ssi trading center, Ssi sub-county, Buikwe district, under the theme, ‘Concretizing the gains of our heroes is a duty for every Ugandan.’
The Act enacted in 2007, establishes the Presidential Awards Committee (PAC), and has nine-member committee whose mandate is to identify, vet and recommend potential people for conferment of titles of honour, decoration, medals and awards.
The Act also provides for different categories of awards both for military and civilians. The committee is to advise the president in respect of the persons upon whom the titles of honor may be conferred.
Eagle failed to get a comment from Gen. Tumwine as he didn’t answer his calls to his mobile telephone.
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