By Mulengera Reporters
President Museveni as a matter of prudent practice will have to reorganize his Cabinet and unleash new faces of people who will serve as Ministers in his new government to be constituted after taking oath in May.
After inauguration in May, the big man from Rwakitura will have a maximum of two months within which to do that because he is unlikely to go beyond July before proclaiming to the country the people he will be working with at the Cabinet level to facilitate the business of service delivery for the benefit of the Ugandan people.
In a recent conversation which veteran Ugandan journalist Charles Onyango-Obbo moderated under the ‘Bad Natives’ Podcast, Andrew Mwenda, whose boss the CDF Gen MK is understood to be heavily involved in vetting people for inclusion, gave multiple indications regarding who was likely to be considered and for which role.
For instance, Andrew Mwenda, who is a leading ideologue in the MK universe, made reference to Sheema North’s Elioda Tumwesigye who he indicated is headed for a big come back into Cabinet, having re-invented himself by winning back his MP seat. Gratefully, the good old doctor did well polling 17,506 votes beating two other opponents namely Julius Muhanguzi and PFF’s Julius Bankunda who trailed with 569 votes.
The other old timers back into the 12th Parliament whose Cabinet inclusion Andrew Mwenda signaled include Prof Ephraim Kamuntu, Gen Henry Tumukunde, Gen Kahinda Otafiire, Gen Jim Muhwezi and a few others. In that podcast same Mwenda, who is like Gen MK’s defacto number two in the PLU universe, implied bad news for both current Vice President Jessica Alupo and incumbent Prime Minister Robinah Nabanja. He asserted that Gen Museveni will need a powerful and more sophisticated person to serve as Prime Minister in order to effectively to supervise the implementation of the NRM agenda for the next five years.
Indeed, sources knowledgeable about the already ongoing new Cabinet vetting process have indicated that the appointing authority is seriously considering elevating the amiable Gen Katumba Wamala to the position of Prime Minister & Head of Government business. The man from Kyaggwe is energetic, sophisticated, sociable and commands respect among Cabinet colleagues and the rest of the country too. That clearly comes out when you peruse through the Ministers’ cabinet WhatsApp group where there is unanimity that he is a man who deserves respect.
Sometimes, senior Ministers engage into belligerent arguments and descend into personal attacks-and it’s always Katumba Wamala to command them to deescalate. Whenever he decrees de-escalation, it immediately happens. One time the Premier and the Minister of Gender went into a belligerent exchange and it was Katumba Wamala who joined VP Alupo to secure de-escalation. This came after the two had taken weeks bashing each other on the group. Even when a member considers Gen Katumba’s views possibly disagreeable on anything on the group, it’s clear they will do it with restraint and respect.
He is a Muganda from Ssese islands in Kalangala district and is a well-respected figure both within the Church and at Mengo, the seat of Buganda. He also has a network of key groups (like banna bitone) in Kampala Metropolitan area, much of Buganda and the whole country. He is also personally disciplined and scandal-free. All these make him suitable for the slot moreover at a time after voters in Buganda demonstrated readiness to once again embrace Musevenism.
Gen Museveni grew his percentage in Buganda to 47% clearly closing in on Bobi Wine Kyagulanyi who polled 49%. Yet that isn’t all. More NRMs won MP and local council seats in Buganda than was the case five years earlier, in 2021. Andrew Mwenda says all these dynamics combine to make Gen Museveni obliged to increase the visibility of Baganda at the apex of his government.
There was a time when both the Prime Minister (Apollo Nsibambi) and Vice President (Gilbert Bukenya) plus Speaker of Parliament (Edward Sekandi) were all Baganda-and the sun still rose from the East. Whereas during the Bad Natives podcast Andrew Mwenda described an elderly Muganda of the ex-Katikkiro JB Walusimbi pedigree as the likely next Vice President, credible State House sources have consistently indicated that the President hasn’t ruled out making Tooro sub region’s Gen Ronnie Balya (the ex-ISO DG and currently Uganda’s ambassador to Sudan) the next Vice President.
Gen Kahinda Otafiire, who Mwenda predicted stands high retention chances on the account of his participation in NRA war, is being considered for deployment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Cooperation. By the way he is one of the most recycled Ministers and has been to almost every Ministry of Uganda in the last 40 years of Musevenism.
Fred Ruhindi, who unexpectedly bounced back as Nakawa MP, is being considered to replace Norbert Mao as the Justice & Constitutional Affairs Minister. He previously worked at the same Ministry as the Attorney General. Gen David Muhoozi is favored to replace Jacob Oboth-Oboth as Minister of Defense & Veteran Affairs.
To reward and reciprocate the political re-alignment his native Kasese district demonstrated in this year’s elections, by letting in NRM, the very humorous Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi (also former ADC to Museveni) is being considered for the Finance Ministry docket to replace long-serving and now very exhausted Matia Kasaija who is actually a few years older than even Jjaaja Museveni himself. There is certainty that Mbadi will be as loyal to his principal as Kasaija has been.
Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, who just bounced back as the Bukonzo West MP (polled 35,899 votes against runner up Geoffrey Atkins Katushabe’s 26,399), is being favored for a role at the Ministry of Education, an assignment he can ably execute besides being the Chancellor for Makerere University.
The workaholic Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, who has rendered fairly effective leadership at Energy for the last five years, is being considered for the position of second Deputy Prime Minister. There are suggestions to make the current Vice President Jessica Alupo, who lately has frequently been representing the big man in international fora, Uganda’s Permanent Representative at the NY-based UN where she can execute the big man’s sensitive errands related to regional and global security.
Current NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong, who the President is happy has done fairly well at Kyadondo since replacing his former boss Kasule Lumumba, is being considered for the position of first Deputy Prime Minister and also the Minister in charge of East African Affairs. There are proposals to make the current Premier a Presidential Envoy (something).
There are suggestions to elevate the housing and urban development docket into a fully-fledged cabinet slot and take it away from Lands. And Sr Counsel Markson Jacob Oboth-Oboth is being vetted for that role. Sam Mayanja is being vetted for elevation to become the full Minister for lands as his current boss Judith Nabakooba replaces Gen Otafiire as Minister in charge of Internal Affairs, in which capacity she will be directly supervising Uganda Police Force, her former employer, among other agencies.
Nabakooba’s reappointment is clearly fortified by the fact that she easily beat NUP opponents and bounced back as Mityana Woman MP. She won with 55,035 votes effectively dwarfing Joyce Bagala (10,179) and NUP-sponsored Proscovia Mukisa Nabossa (40,579). There was also Catherine Nalweyiso Tusubira, the outgoing district speaker who was also NUP-leaning.
Lt Gen James Mugira, currently the MD National Enterprise Corporation (NEC which is the business arm of UPDF), is being vetted for the position of Minister of ICT & National Guidance as the current office holder Chris Baryomunsi gets redeployed to Parliament to serve as Government Chief Whip.
Baryomunsi is senior, eloquent and experienced about the Parliament business having been MP for so many years including the five he served as a backbench Commissioner along with Emmanuel Ddombo, Jalia Bintu and others. GCW Hamson Obua stands no retention chances in that same office having lost his Ajuri County Seat in Alebtong. Gen Henry Tumukunde is headed to the security docket which he handled before.
Sources close to the appointing authority further reveal that Frank Tumwebaze, an influential actor inside the MK universe, could bounce back as Minister for Presidency. He served there before being moved to ICT, Gender and MAAIF where he is. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, with whom they serve on the MK Fund Board, is staying put as Minister of Health as Kasule Lumumba prepares to replace Tom Butiime at the Ministry of Tourism.
Aceng pleased the appointing authority and proved her worth when it comes to genuine political mobilization when she humbled the UPC first lady Betty Amongi to remain Woman MP for Lira City which the UPCs consider to be their cradle. It’s also possible Aceng could even go up and end up with something more powerful than just being retained at the Wandegeya-based Ministry, which has been her place of work since the year 2011.
She first went there as Director General Medical Services before being elevated. In the Lira City race, she polled 38,505 votes, leaving Betty Amongi grumbling with 26,503. Even after vanquishing her worthy opponent, Aceng remained graceful and conciliatory as opposed to being belligerent. That restraint demonstrated the political maturity she is comprised of.
It has also been revealed that Princess Persis Namuganza is headed to being elevated from state Minister to full Cabinet Minister and be deployed at Works to replace Gen Katumba Wamala. She bounced back on the independent ticket as Bukono County MP in Namutumba. Currently, she is battling to become Speaker of Parliament, something many see as an attempt to antagonize Anita Among. Namuganza’s elevation has been under consideration for some time as one time it was claimed she was being vetted to replace Minsa Kabanda as Minister of Kampala Metropolitan Affairs.
Rukia Isanga Nakaddama, who is also the Mayuge Woman MP, is staying put as the 3rd Deputy Prime Minister as Fred Bwino Kyakulaga eyes full docket of Minister of Agriculture. Minsa Kabanda has high chances of staying put as Kampala Minister (having dwarfed NUP Secretary General for the Kampala Central MP seat) as Mary Grace Mugasa (the wealthy lady from Kikuube where she famously has the best house) gets elevated to full Cabinet Minister in charge of Public Service.
Opolot Okasai, also the MP Kumi County, is headed for elevation to full Minister for Energy & Mineral Development as Hon Esther Davinia Anyakun gets vetted for elevation to the position of full Cabinet Minister Gender, Labor & Social Development.
Hillary Onek has high chances of staying on as Minister in charge of disaster preparedness and refugees. Raphael Magyezi (Local Government) & Kiwanuka Kiryowa (Attorney General) are staying put as Hamson Obua gets vetted for the docket of Minister of Water & Environment.
To achieve political expedience goals while attempting isolation of Jimmy Akena, Betty Amongi is being considered for Ministry of Trade, Industry & Cooperatives. Monica Musenero is staying put at Science, Technology & Innovation because her appointing authority is still pleased with her performance. Musa Mbaziira, the outgoing Rubaga Division Speaker who is also a close ally of First Lady Janet Museveni, too is being prepared for inclusion to be deployed in a political mobilization-oriented role. He could replace Kyofa Togabye to Deputize Minsa Kabanda for the Kampala Metropolitan Affairs docket. He is an excellent mobilizer and State House has up to now failed to understand what exactly happened for him to be defeated by NUP’s Euginia Nassolo for the Rubaga South MP position.
Desire to contain and prevent him from becoming the fearless voice around which potential rebel MPs can coalesce, while drawing inspiration to fearlessly contradict floppy Ministers, it’s being considered to immediately ‘grab’ Ofwono Opondo and divert him with a juicy Cabinet posting so that he spends much of his time defending the executive as opposed to antagonizing it. Having employed and closely supervised him for roughly 25 years now, Gen Museveni rightly knows that Ofwono Opondo is naturally anti-authority and can be hard to predict sometimes. This makes early alignment and containment the best option as opposed to waking up when it’s too late, after much damage has been caused.
Sources have disclosed that it’s the choice and deployment of cadres in the capacity of state Ministers that has, ironically, given the appointing authority the hardest time because infront of him is an even larger pool of cadres to choose from. Watch out for the list of those being prospected for the state Ministers’ category in our subsequent reporting on this matter. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
