Kampala — I refer to The New Vision's "Corridors of power" column of August 22, 2007 in which it was reported that Members of Parliament from the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) had removed President Yoweri Museveni's portrait from their office in Parliament.

When asked why he removed the President's portrait from the office designated to him as an MP and chief whip of UPC, Hon Okello Okello said: "I removed it a long time ago because this office belongs to UPC. Parliament labelled it a UPC office. I do not see any reason for having Museveni's portrait."

Museveni was democratically elected and he is recognised as the head of state. His portrait is displayed at every public office as a fountain of honour. Even during the dictatorship of Idi Amin, which Hon. Okello served faithfully as a civil servant at the Ministry of Lands, Amin's portrait hang over his head and he never complained nor removed it.

Today, Okello is a Member of Parliament elected on the UPC ticket. He attends regularly and contributes to parliamentary proceedings and the running of the Government whose head is President Museveni.

I expected Okello to know the following:

• The office he refers to belongs to the legislature. It is a public office intended to serve Ugandans of all shades, to enable them organise themselves in democratic governance.

• The label "UPC Office" is to guide others to know where UPC leaders in the House can be found.

• The reason why the President's portrait should be there is to recognise the fact that he is the Head of State, under which Okello is serving as a legislator.

The UPC headquarters at Uganda House should also have the portrait of the President, in recognition of the fact that the party would be irrelevant without Uganda as a nation headed by a president.

If in future, Okello, who is the vice-president of UPC, becomes the president, should Ugandans who do not belong to UPC remove his portraits from public offices they occupy?

Okello's attitude confirmed the worry many Ugandans have about multiparty politics. Okello should be one of the elders who should exhibit democratic behaviour, nationalism and foresightedness for the future of this country.

Okello appears to be intolerant, which is detrimental to the social progress and development of Uganda, and, in particular, the well-being of the people of northern Uganda. I pray that God changes his heart.

The writer is a travel consultant