Family Affair? See Why Museveni Sent His Son In-law Rwabwogo To Plead With America Over AGOA Suspension – Left All Ministers Behind

State Minister for Trade and Cooperative Harriet Ntabazi confirmed that her senior minister Frances Mwebesa canceled his planned trip to the United States of America to lead a delegation of top government officials negotiating with President Joe Biden’s government over AGOA suspension.

Ntabazi stated that Minister Mwebesa canceled the trip due to a sudden illness at the last hour. When asked why she didn’t replace him to lead the delegation, she explained she was out of time to process the necessary requirements.However, sources in the Ministry of Trade revealed that Minister Mwebesa was informed by the US embassy that he’s not allowed to enter America due to travel sanctions imposed by President Biden’s government. His name was allegedly captured among those sanctioned for supporting the controversial Homosexuality law.

“Minister Mwebesa’s name was captured among those sanctioned with legislators who supported the controversial Homosexuality law. We tried to plead on grounds that he was travelling on presidential directive and that both countries are benefiting but he was told to wait for a communication from the American foreign minister,” a source said.

Efforts to plead on the grounds that he was traveling on presidential directive were unsuccessful, and he was asked to wait for communication from the American foreign minister.Facing a deadline before January 01, 2024, Rwabwogo, the president’s son-in-law and senior advisor, is now leading the delegation. He is reportedly getting support from a Washington lobbyist firm to plead Uganda’s case, emphasizing that the country being an English-speaking nation needs America for trade.

In an interview with CNBC-Africa, Rwabwogo expressed concerns over President Biden’s warning, highlighting the potential impact on Uganda’s youth and businesswomen. He defended the Homosexuality law, stating it was made democratically to protect children from early exposure to inappropriate content.

“We find it strange that those of us who come to you with open hands, you don’t allow us legroom rather than issuing demarche and penalizing. That’s not a very healthy relationship,” Rwobwogo said in the interview.

Minister Ntabazi emphasized that Uganda awaits the US to understand that trade is different from human rights, asserting that the matters under contestation are divergent in nature. However minister Ntambazi noted that what Uganda is waiting for is the United States to understand that trade is different from human rights.He explained that the matters under contestation are divergent in nature.

President Museveni recently told the US that he goes to their country as a favour and has nothing to lose when he doesn’t go there because Uganda has everything a human being needs to survive.He was supported by the already sanctioned Speaker of Parliament Annet Anita Among.