Mukono Municipality Member of Parliament Betty Nambooze has raised alarm over what she describes as growing fear and mistrust among Uganda’s political leaders, claiming that some legislators are increasingly afraid of eating or drinking refreshments served during official parliamentary meetings.
Speaking during a recent parliamentary sitting, the National Unity Platform (NUP) legislator warned that political suspicion has reached alarming levels, with MPs reportedly questioning the safety of food and drinks provided during committee meetings and other official gatherings.
Nambooze told Parliament that some legislators have become so uncomfortable with the prevailing atmosphere that they deliberately avoid refreshments offered during meetings for fear that they could be poisoned.
“You give snacks in a committee, and no one touches them because they think they are going to be poisoned,” Nambooze told the House.
Although the legislator did not present specific evidence of poisoning incidents or identify individuals suspected of involvement, her remarks highlighted the extent of mistrust she believes has developed within the country’s political circles.
She further warned that the growing suspicion is no longer confined to Parliament but is gradually spreading into ordinary social interactions, threatening relationships and traditional cultural practices.
According to Nambooze, political divisions have become so deep that even gatherings meant to bring people together, including burial ceremonies, are increasingly affected by suspicion and hostility.
She cautioned that Uganda could be heading towards a dangerous situation if the underlying political tensions, divisions and unresolved grievances are not urgently addressed.
The concerns raised by Nambooze are not entirely new. Similar fears reportedly emerged within Parliament in 2022, when concerns over the safety of food served at the parliamentary canteen triggered reluctance among some legislators to eat there.
In 2015, former intelligence coordinator General David Sejusa also made claims that some government officials carried their own snacks to meetings because they feared being poisoned.
However, Nambooze’s latest remarks have once again drawn attention to the psychological and political consequences of mistrust among leaders.Her warning comes amid persistent political disagreements and accusations surrounding electoral violence and the treatment of opposition figures.
Describing the situation as a potential national crisis, Nambooze warned that Uganda was effectively sitting on a time bomb.
Her message raises broader questions about political reconciliation, public confidence and whether the country’s increasingly strained political environment can be addressed before suspicion becomes deeply entrenched in society.
