Cabinet not broad-based, says Mao
Democratic Party president Nobert Mao (Right) addresses journalists in Kampala on Tuesday. Left is Mr Gerald Siranda, the acting Secretary General. File photo
KAMPALA- Democratic Party President Nobert Mao has said appointing three Opposition members to Cabinet does not make Museveni’s government broad based.
The DP said that the Opposition had called for a government of national unity, built on consensus, following the disputed February 18 general election.
The appointees
On Monday, President Museveni named opposition members; Ms Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi (Democratic Party), Betty Amongi (Uganda Peoples Congress) and Beti Olive Kamya (Uganda Federal Alliance) as ministers.
Ms Amongi, the MP for Oyam County South, is the State minister for Lands designate, Ms Kamya, a loser in the Lubaga parliamentary contest, is the Minister for Kampala designate, while Ms Nakiyingi, a loser in the Kampala Woman MP race, is State minister for Youth and Children Affairs designate.
Addressing journalists during DP’s weekly press briefing in Kampala on Tuesday, Mr Mao said the gesture by Mr Museveni is only for “the politically gullible” to represent a spirit of inclusion.
“However, to the adept and keen observers, the inclusion of Opposition members is nothing but despicable tokenism,” Mr Mao said. “We reject tokenism because it simply means trading a few crumbs for a fair share of the loaf of political power.”
Using a proverb by the Igbo of Nigeria, Mr Mao said: “No one gets a mouthful of food by picking between another person’s teeth.”
He pointed out that Uganda is a country that is deeply divided and hurting, after the disputed election, “marred by unprecedented rigging, post-election brutality and continued repression.”
“The nation is badly in need of healing. President Museveni’s one man rule ensures that no alternative voice will be heard in Cabinet, Parliament, the Judiciary and even the streets.”
The DP leader claimed that in terms of democracy, “Uganda in the next five years will be nothing more than a political graveyard.”
He denounced the new Cabinet as “yet another lever in President Museveni’s power arsenal.”
“Museveni and his cabal are presiding over a malevolent and capricious state capture which is clearly seen in the tyranny of the majority in Parliament. This Cabinet therefore does not represent a new direction. You cannot make an omelette by shuffling around rotten eggs,” Mr Mao said.
