By Mulengera Reporters
The mood at Judicial Service Commission and generally the Justice sub sector is one of excitement following the expiry of contract for the very vindictive Dr. Rose Nassali Lukwago who has been PS there for close to 5 years now.
A former PS at the education Ministry, belligerent Nassali was posted to Judicial Service Commission (JSC) after the 2016 elections after the President learnt many of her not-so-very comforting secrets from Martin Muhanga, a former protégé who was very powerful during Nassali’s hey days at the Embassy House-based Ministry. Nassali was then very powerful and Minister Jessica Alupo is among those suffered her wrath. Nassali supporters always referenced on the President claiming she was one of the few PSs that would directly talk to the H.E without going through emissaries.
Some of the FX Lubanga-era technocrats quickly eased out of Embassy House and gratefully, seasoned Teckla Kinalwa who was then a powerful Secretary Office of the President easily understood the difficult circumstances under which those working under Nassali operated and acquiesced to many technocrats’ wish to be transferred to safer Ministries. This gave Nassali latitude to operate the way she wanted and, in the process, stepped on many toes. These are some of the people who jubilated when the big man from Rwakitura finally swung the axe and ordered her out of the very important Ministry. It was a very humbling experience being dropped from such a juicy lucrative docket into the obscure vote the pre-Justice Benjamin Kabito JSC was.
Even at JSC, Nassali wasn’t an easy person for many of those she had to work with and in her characteristic style of taking no prisoners, the thick-skinned technocrat dared take on Gen Kahinda Otafiire as the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs. It was about the General’s wish to enhance salaries of the JSC Commissioners, something the PS/Accounting Officer wasn’t very comfortable with.
Her view was there was no money and retrospectively enhancing salaries that way would expose the cash-strapped Commission to more financial obligations. The matter ended up in Court where Nassali was upstaged with the Deputy AG Mwesigwa Rukutana (renowned for his pragmatism) swearing an affidavit of support in favor of those who wanted Court to compel her (Nassali) to pay the Commissioners the higher salaries as Otafiire had decreed. It’s a move that greatly subdued Nassali as accounting officer and since that day, the relationship between her and some of the JSC Commissioners hasn’t been the best.
The anxiety spilled over to engulf some of the Commission employees who took sides and sided with the anti-Nassali forces in the Justice sub sector. Her contract as Secretary for JSC ended recently and no body seems to have appetite to help lobby both the President and the Public Service Commission to consider her for retention. Everybody considers she is a hard person; one that is extremely very hard to do government business with.
“The best advise that can be given to the H.E. regarding this matter is to ask him to let her go because that’s is the best for her. Her approach to things can’t allow her work well with people anywhere in government and its in her interest that the H.E. appoints her to some other position outside public service,” said one of the powerbrokers in the Justice Ministry. It’s also said the high standards the MBA-holding Kabito has set at JSC have left many wondering whether modestly-experienced Nassali is the right person for the job. (For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755 or email us at mulengera2040@gmail.com).
