New Ministers revel in celebrations

Nasser Ntege Sebagala

President Museveni on Friday night dropped at least 25 ministers in his new Cabinet which came with lots of surprises with a considerable number of outsiders getting senior portfolios and state ministers’ slots. Sunday Monitor’s Sheila Naturinda & Al-Mahdi Ssenkabirwa spoke to some of the new appointees who were revelling in celebration and those dropped.

Who is Maria Kiwanuka?

Ms Maria Kiwanuka is the General Manager of Radios one and Two (Akaboozi ku Bbiri), current chairperson of the Uganda Registration Board, a deputy chairperson of the Uganda Broadcasters Association and a board member of Stanbic Bank.
She is also chairperson Business Working Group of the Presidential Investment Road Table and also a board member MTN Foundation and the Nnabagereka Development Foundation.
She holds a Masters of Business Administration from the London Business School, University of London which she achieved in 1981 and Bachelor of Commerce from Makerere University which she got in 1977.
Between 1991 and 1997, Ms Kiwanuka became an economist and financial analyst to Swaziland Urban Development Project, to the Uganda District Management Study, and to the Uganda Public Expenditure, Public Investment Review.
She has also been a financial analyst for the Burma infrastructure, Malawi transport sector review and rehabilitation project and Malaysian transport sector review.
Ms Kiwanuka has also been transport sector task manager, developing transport policies in less developed South Pacific countries and also managed energy assessments in several countries in the South East Asia and southern Africa.
She has done several more field missions in Burma, Malaysia, Tanzania, Malawi, Swaziland, Indonesia, Philippines and Austria.

New entrants to Cabinet

Mary Karooro Okurut (Information and National Guidance)
I feel humbled, honored and privileged that President Museveni appointed me to serve in an area of understanding.
I will operate an open-door policy and will be a partner with the media. I will work hard to increase the access of information from government to the media, and improve the relationship between government and media. The media, however, must also be willing to work with government by replacing cynicism with a healthy criticism.

Nasser Ntege Sebaggala (Without Portfolio)
It is normal because I was expecting it. I was appointed because of my hard work and vision so I had always known that at one time, I must be on that list.
Anybody who works hard must be paid and I have all the qualifications because I have been mayor for five years so my vetting won’t be any problem.

Peter Nyombi (Attorney General)
I am a hard worker and although I am sure there will be many challenges I promise to perform. I started by working in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs for 10 years, so to me, I have returned home. However, I didn’t expect my posting. I believe in God and everything is possible.

Justine Kasule Lumumba (State Urban Planning)
I don’t even know what is entailed in that ministry but since Daudi Migereko will be my boss, I will learn and won’t get problems because I have been working with him for long. I expected to be minister though not sure which position because President Museveni has always praised me in almost all caucus meetings we had before.

Alex Onzima (Local government)
It was a surprise to me but I will build on what the predecessor left and together with the technical people in the ministry we take services to a higher level.
It doesn’t have to be my area of profession but team work will always do miracles for us to produce good results.

Saleh Kamba (Bunyoro Affairs)
It is a deployment which I really must take up and deliver to the expectations of both the appointing authority and the Banyoro whom I will be serving.
I have always been ready for any revolutionary deployments anywhere in the country and in whatever capacity.

Mbabaali Muyanja (State Investment)
It was a surprise to me because my major election was based on two things; liberating the constituency from the Democratic Party and developing my people from poverty.
I achieved the first one and for the second one, I am working on it. I have been a businessman and a local investor for 35 years and so for many people to whisper that I was destined for Cabinet was because they wished me well.

Henry Banyenzaki (Economic Monitoring)
It was a surprise and I got to know it from a driver who picked me from the airport that night. I am going to carry on my pro-people agenda and continue collaborating with my MP colleagues.
I know I have been appointed to make a difference in the way things have been done because that portfolio needs an innovative person for which I am.

Dropped ministers speak out on move

Prof. Gabriel Opio, former Minister of Gender and Social Affairs

The President has a right to choose who to be a minister. Since I have been dropped, I will remain Opio and nothing else.

Aggrey Awori, former ICT Minister ICT
This is the fourth time I am being removed from Cabinet and I am now used to it. The good thing is that this time it has not been violent. I am an innovative man and I am going to resort to self employment.

Dr Emmanuel Otaala, former State Minister for Labour
It is the prerogative of the President to choose who to work with. And when you look at the new list, those who lost their parliamentary seats or are still having court cases like me were not brought back. But being loyal cadre will continue working with NRM in any capacity.

Jessica Eriyo, former state Minister for Environment
That is the President’s new line up and I have no authority to question it. I was rigged out of victory and I was not expecting anything big. I hope the appointing authority will consider me for other positions and if not that I will concentrate on my private business.

Godfrey Pereza Ahabwe, former State Minister for Local Govt
The prerogative lies with the President and I think he chose people he deemed fit for the positions. But I have been reliably told by sources that he employed the same parameters he used while appointing us. Of course he was under pressure to balance regions, religion and loyalty. But in my case, I lost the election yet the priority goes to those who won their seats. But I am still resourceful and if he still needs me, I am ready to serve anywhere.

Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire, former Education Minister
Nothing much I can talk about that. I am going to call a press conference soon and explain my contribution to the country.

Isaac Musumba, former State Minister for Regional Cooperation
First of all, for me like I have always said the moment you lose in your constituency, like I did, you automatically lose your bargaining power. The good thing is that I saw all that coming and I am not shaken at all because for all the many years I have lived on earth, I have been a minister for only 10 years.
And I think the public should also change the way they look at us because they are the same people been complaining that the man keeps on recycling the same people.
He has made changes and you are asking us why we are not there. Good enough he has brought new many faces and I wish them well.

Serapio Rukundo, former State Minister for Tourism
The day I was appointed minister I automatically knew that one time I will be dropped. It has been a pleasure to serve my country and being a temporary situation I have done my part and it is a turn for others to serve.