President Museveni has exercised his Constitutional powers and given PSST Keith Muhakanizi a new contract to continue heading the treasury and serving as PS for the Finance Ministry.
Signed a few days ago, the contract indicates Muhakanizi will oversee Uganda’s economy as the chief technocrat in that area for another 36 months (3 years). It simply means the earliest the thick-skinned technocrat from Lyantonde can ease out of the Finance Ministry can only be May 2022 long after Museveni has secured his 6th elective term as President of Uganda.
Museveni was equally gracious to Patrick Ochaillap who will continue deputizing Muhakanizi for another 24 months which basically means two years. Ochailap had previously clocked 60 years sparking anticipation he would be easing out without accepting any further contract.
Having undergone successful medical procedures in Turkey, Muhakanizi is expected back to office early June and will then relieve his overworked deputy Ochailap who has been running the show in his absence.
Yet Museveni hasn’t done it for only Muhakanizi and Ochailap. OPM’s PS Christine Kintu Guwatudde and Edith Mwanje of the EAC Affairs Ministry are equally beneficiaries of his latest benevolence. They have each been offered new contracts of 36 months. Guwatudde’s extension must have been very bad news for one of the elderly male PSs who has always been feuding her for taking what he considered to be his government inheritance.
It’s now only the one for Julius Onen (the Trade Ministry PS who died last month leaving a glaring vacuum at the Farmers House-based Ministry) that remains vacant. Museveni wants this urgently filled because of the importance of the Trade Ministry currently being shepherded by Ag PS Eng Senkungu who will be quitting soon on the account of age.
