By Our Reporters
Dependable government sources say that as the country concentrates its attention on Gen Kale Kayihura’s incarceration, President Museveni could surprise Ugandans by occasioning changes on his cabinet. And this news website understands that Kitgum Municipality MP Beatrice Anywar is playing a significant kingmaker role as some incumbent ministers have lately been driving to her Kyambogo home at night imploring her to report good things about them to the President. “She is going to be Minister in the new cabinet and she is also seen as the new kid on the block to whom the President listens a lot these days and its this growing influence that recently angered NRM SG Kasule Lumumba to the point of antagonizing her party chairman at a news conference at Plot 10 [NRM headquarters],” said a knowledgeable source. “Whereas the Lumumbas struggle to get the President’s attention, for Anywar it’s just a phone call away and her advice continues to be taken very seriously by the President who admires her mobilization charm.” One of the political leaders at the Internal Affairs Ministry was said to be among the incumbent Ministers who have lately been trying their best to treat Anywar well just in case. It’s widely believed it was Anywar who led the efforts to maintain Prof Wasswa Balunywa at Mubs as Principal while getting rid of Council chairman Prof Venescias Baryamureeba who many thought was deeply connected to State House. “That Mubs experience eliminated all doubts anybody still hard regarding Anywar’s influence on Mzee,” sources told this news website. In the same vein, Amama Mbabazi whom Anywar supported for President in 2016 is set to bounce back in a big way and sources say that, desire to fulfill the numerous conditions he has given, partly explains why the President has delayed announcing the cabinet reshuffle. It’s said that, having suffered his wrath when he was still the powerful IGP, Mbabazi’s demands include comprehensive clamping of Gen Kale Kayihura’s wings before the man from Kanungu can accept to rejoin government. He is widely expected to come in as Vice President with a broadened but largely ceremonial mandate. Current occupant Edward Sekandi already suffers from political fatigue and months ago wrote to the H/E begging to be let go. Sekandi doesn’t want to be reappointed partly on the account of frail health and returning JPAM is expected to demoralize opposition groups that have been using his fallout as evidence of a President who always betrays, as opposed to keeping, longtime friends. This news website has also separately learnt that the delay to announce the cabinet reshuffle is partly due to uncertainty as to how the Constitutional Court will decide on the age limit case. The President would like to wait and use his cabinet reconstruction in a manner that takes care of the consequences of the court decision.
OPPOSITION MPS TARGETED;
It’s also true that the President sometime back sent out his scouts to woo more opposition figures to join his cabinet just like Beti Kamya and Nakiwala Kiyingi did in May 2016. Credible sources tell this news website that it’s the President’s wish to win over at least three big name opposition MPs namely Nandala Mafabi, Latif Sebaggala and Mohammed Nsereko. “He badly wants to contain Nandala that way because he says he disturbs him a lot on the donors: World Bank and IMF officials in Washington listen to him a lot and the President is very much bothered. He believes if he were to agree, he can be perfect replacement for finance minister Matia Kasaija but he [M7] is certain it won’t be easy but he wants this to be an ongoing effort. As for Nsereko, he admires his oratory and mobilization skills and wants him to either replace or deputize Frank Tumwebaze in the information docket. Latif Sebaggala is desired to become Minister for Kampala replacing Beti Kamya. Mzee believes he is a natural leader and his moderate approach could woo over more elected leaders in Kampala to embrace government programs than Kamya,” said one of the influential Museveni assistants we spoke to for this article. The President first deployed teams to reach the trio the day he flew to London for the Chogm meeting and tasked them to have feedback before he returned and to his dismay, efforts by his scouts to speak to Nandala failed as the FDC SG proved elusive. It was unclear how far the same emissaries went in reaching the two opposition MPs namely Mohammed Nsereko and Latif Sebaggala. For comments, call/text/whatsapp us on 0703164755.
