Nakiyi Dismisses Biara’s Claims Against Tayebwa as Bulambuli Residents Distance Themselves

Budadiri East Member of Parliament Hon. Eng. Julius Nakiyi has dismissed allegations by Bulambuli County MP Hon. Emmanuel Biara Wephukulu against Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, describing them as an alleged blackmail campaign aimed at creating divisions within the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU).

Nakiyi, who says he was directly involved in introducing Biara to Tayebwa before the two entered Parliament, has come out to explain the circumstances surrounding a photograph that Biara has reportedly presented as evidence in his accusations against the Deputy Speaker.

According to Nakiyi, Biara initially approached him seeking an introduction to Tayebwa, with the intention of asking for support in securing a government appointment.

“I have seen Hon. Biara parading a photo in which I appear as the evidence he has against the Rt. Hon. Tayebwa in his unfounded claims that Rt. Hon. Tayebwa is working against the interests of the PLU leader Gen. Muhoozi,” Nakiyi said.

Nakiyi explained that before MPs were sworn in, Biara asked him to facilitate a meeting with Tayebwa. He said Biara wanted Tayebwa to lobby for him to become Minister of State for Environment or, alternatively, chairperson of Parliament’s Natural Resources Committee.

The Budadiri East legislator said Biara also requested that Prof. Gilbert Bukenya accompany him to the meeting because of his longstanding relationship with the former Vice President, whom Biara reportedly regarded as his political mentor.

Nakiyi said he informed Tayebwa about Biara's request for a meeting but did not initially disclose the purpose of the proposed engagement.

According to Nakiyi, Tayebwa suggested that instead of asking Prof. Bukenya to travel to meet him, they should travel to meet the former Vice President because the proposed meeting was scheduled for a Sunday.

Nakiyi further said Tayebwa personally contacted Prof. Bukenya in his presence to confirm whether he was willing to meet them together with Biara.

“The professor confirmed it,” Nakiyi said.

Biara’s Requests

Nakiyi said that during the meeting, Biara openly asked Tayebwa to help him secure either the position of Minister of State for Environment or, as an alternative, the chairpersonship of the Natural Resources Committee.

However, Nakiyi said Tayebwa made it clear that he did not have the authority to appoint ministers.

Instead, according to Nakiyi, Tayebwa advised Prof. Bukenya to write to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in his capacity as a presidential adviser on environment and recommend Biara for consideration.

Nakiyi said Prof. Bukenya agreed and subsequently wrote to the President, although he reportedly expressed reservations about Biara's previous record while working at the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).

On the parliamentary committee position, Nakiyi said Tayebwa similarly explained that he did not have the power to appoint committee chairpersons, but could recommend Biara if he was ever asked for his opinion.

The Budadiri East MP alleges that after the appointments were eventually made and Biara did not secure either of the positions he had sought, he threatened to begin a campaign against Tayebwa.

“When appointments were made and he didn't see his name anywhere, he said he would embark on a blackmail campaign against TT which he has started,” Nakiyi alleged.

Nakiyi Explains the Controversial Photograph

Nakiyi also sought to clarify the photograph that has reportedly featured in Biara's accusations. He said the photograph was taken using his own mobile phone at Biara's request and that he subsequently shared it with Biara.

“The photo being paraded was taken using my phone on request of Biara and I shared it with him. I still have this photo on my phone in its original format,” Nakiyi said.

He added that the account he has given can be independently verified by Prof. Bukenya and the professor's assistant, who he said was present during the meeting.

Nakiyi therefore called upon members of the PLU and other political actors to disregard what he described as Biara's “rantings”, arguing that they could undermine unity within the pressure group.

“I implore political associates of the Rt. Hon. Tayebwa and the membership of PLU to ignore the rantings of Hon. Biara as they are meant to cause divisions in the pressure group and reverse the gains of the group. He deserves no attention,” Nakiyi said.

Bulambuli Residents Distance Themselves from Biara’s Statements

Meanwhile, some residents of Bulambuli County have reportedly distanced themselves from the statements attributed to their area MP, saying they do not represent the views of the wider community. One resident identified as Tingu said some constituents were concerned that the statements could damage the relationship between Bulambuli and the government.

“Some of us have actually expressed our intent to distance ourselves from such unfounded rants from ‘our’ MP Biara,” Tingu said.

The resident accused the legislator of allegedly making the statements in pursuit of political visibility and relevance, while describing them as potentially damaging to the district's relationships with senior government officials.

Tingu further alleged that the statements amounted to character attacks against highly placed individuals and warned that continued confrontation could have consequences for Bulambuli.

“We would like to categorically distance ourselves from these malicious statements and apologise to Hon. Thomas Tayebwa and indeed the entire Parliament and government of Uganda,” Tingu said.

The resident also expressed concern that the controversy could result in Bulambuli being isolated politically, although he stressed that some residents would continue using other communication channels to maintain what he described as cordial relations with the government and the NRM.

The developments come amid growing political debates within Uganda's political landscape, particularly among leaders associated with the PLU and other groups aligned with the ruling National Resistance Movement.

While Nakiyi and the residents quoted have rejected Biara's claims, the allegations against Tayebwa remain a matter of political dispute, with the competing accounts highlighting tensions among political actors.

Biara has not, in the statements provided, been given an opportunity to respond to the specific allegations made by Nakiyi and the residents.

His response would be important in establishing his position on the claims that he sought government and parliamentary positions and subsequently embarked on a campaign against Tayebwa after failing to secure them.