The author of the book thought to be critical of President Museveni’s reign yesterday announced that she was deferring its launch because the government is yet to release a consignment held at Entebbe Airport. Dr Olive Kobusingye, the author of “The Correct Line? Uganda under Museveni”, also reportedly received a telephone call from a hotel that had been booked for the launch, slated for today, that it could not host the function.
Meanwhile, Parliament chaired by Speaker Edward Ssekandi has tasked the minister of finance to explain why customs was holding Dr Kobusingye’s books. The matter was raised by opposition MPs Alice Alaso and Elijah Okupa who sought an explanation for the seizure. “The lady is going to lose the money she has put in her work. She won’t even get refund from government. If it is for security reasons, tell the country,” Mr Okupa said. Ms Alaso added: “It is our inherent right as Ugandans to read whatever we want. We ask that finance directs the immediate release of those books because books don’t pay taxes.”
Govt tasked
Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, the State Minister for Planning, said: “It could be tax issues, maybe another law like pornography,” throwing the House into laughter.
He, however, was given up to today to explain the seizure of books that normally enjoy a tax waiver.
Dr Kobusingye yesterday said she was taking the legal path, starting with the courier company paid to deliver her books from London to Uganda. “I have instructed my lawyers to start the process,” she said. The consignment of books that largely profile opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye’s challenge to President Museveni in the 2001 and 2006 general elections, were seized by government officials on Sunday. Dr Kobusingye is sister to Forum for Democratic Change leader Kizza Besigye.
The book questions the fundamental changes promised by President Museveni when he took over power in January 1986 to-date and goes into detail to explore at what points and how the promise failed and the movement got derailed.
Published in London, The Correct Line? Was couriered into the country by a major international courier but was seized at Entebbe International Airport by the Uganda Revenue Authority Customs department under pressure from another unnamed arm of government
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