Cabinet has become irrelevant - Besigye

KAMPALA

Forum for Democratic Change leader, Dr Kizza Besigye, has said it is useless to serve as a minister under President Museveni because individuals appointed to that public office are powerless.

Commenting on last week’s Cabinet reshuffle, Dr Besigye stoked the ongoing public debate in which the Muslim community has expressed concern about disproportionate representation in government. He suggested at a press conference in Kampala yesterday that the debate about which region, religion or tribe dominates the Cabinet “is irrelevant”.

One-man show
“For me, I don’t care really much whether they are from Kiruhura district alone or not because they are there to just pick pay cheques. This country would do well without Cabinet because in any case, there is only one Cabinet and that is Museveni,” Dr Besigye said.
He also attacked Mr Museveni for returning some individuals who are believed to be tainted by either corruption or poor performance, saying their return suggested there was nothing much to expect from.

The leader of the country’s largest opposition party said: “What the people of Uganda should demand is a Cabinet that reflects the shades of our country without reflecting the shades of every district. And, why would we need a cabinet of 40 ministers of state and over 100 advisers?”

Dr Besigye said Ugandans should remain focused and not be diverted by issues like ethnicity and religion that could break the unity of the country. “Yes, we advocate for equal distribution of leadership roles but even if half of them were Muslims, they would not benefit the entire Muslim community,” he said. Presidential Press Secretary Tamale Mirundi yesterday said Dr Besigye was being unrealistic.

Mr Mirundi said, as head of State, Mr Museveni, is guided by the Constitution and not religion and ethnicity. “When the President is appointing Cabinet, he is like a General going for war. Where were the Muslims when Syda Bbumba (a Muslim and former finance minister) was being censored? he asked. He added: “Unless we have another faction of Muslims in Cabinet, otherwise we have Muslim ministers and why would it be an offence if Museveni hasn’t appointed them to Vatican,” he said. Adding: “The race for the leadership in FDC is on but where is the Muslim candidate? Why can’t (Dr Besigye) insist on having a Muslim in the race if he feels for them?”

In the recent changes in ministerial, ambassadorial and resident district commissioner positions, Mr Museveni named 34 ambassadors and heads of mission of whom four were Muslims. Out of the 14 deputy heads of missions, two were Muslims. Among 32 Cabinet ministers, one is a Muslim while four Muslims occupy positions of state minister out of 47 available slots.

Victim’s fundraising
At the same press conference, Dr Besigye appealed to the public to join a fundraising for Ms Brenda Nalwendo, a pregnant woman who was hit by a rubber bullet during walk-to-work protests last year. Dr Besigye said due to unfulfilled promises by police to treat her after she gave birth, he was approached by Ms Nalwendo for help to meet expenses for a necessary trip to India where surgery is expected to be performed on her.

Dr Besigye contributed Shs500,000 while Bukooli Central MP Wafula Oguttu contributed Shs300,000.
“The police intervened to meet the medical cost, including a letter they wrote to Mulago Hospital on April 19, 2011 pledging to pay the bill,” Dr Besigye said. He added: “She gave birth normally after receiving the treatment but subsequently she got serious complications and scars enlarging making it hard for her to eat.”

Ms Nalwendo unveiled Bank Account No5800547399 with Barclays Bank, Mobile Money Numbers 0772821310 and 0701760042 where any financial assistance can be deposited.

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