Minister celebrates fall of Cabinet colleagues

First Lady Janet Museveni hands over a report to Mr John Byabagambi, the newly appointed minister for Karamojja Affairs, at the Office of the Prime Minister on Friday. PHOTO BY ALEX ESAGALA.

KAMPALA- The handover of office by former ministers to their successors continued on Friday with incoming office bearers being asked to perform to people’s expectations.

The first appeal was made by Ms Barbara Nekesa Oundo, the outgoing state minister for Karamoja Affairs, who reminded incoming Cabinet ministers that their positions are temporary.

“Political offices are not career offices and the offices are only departure lounges,” Ms Oundo said at the handover of all ministers under the Office of the Prime Minister before handing over office to Mr Moses Kizige.

Prof Tarsis Kabwegyere, who handed over to Ms Mary Karooro Okurut as General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister, told incoming ministers that “power comes and goes” and also asked those who were dropped from Cabinet to adjust their lives, including navigating through traffic jams like other road-users.

The laughter
Ms Karooro Okurut threw the entire boardroom into laughter when she commented on the heart-shaped key holder handed over to her by Prof Kabwegyere after it was misinterpreted to symbolise love.

However, Ms Okurut clarified that the shape of the key-holder literary indicated a “wholehearted” handover from Prof Kabwegyere.

Ms Rebecca Otengo surprised people when she asked her colleagues to clap for the defeat suffered by many NRM ministers in the elections.

Although her request fell on deaf ears, Ms Otengo said it should be a learning lesson for NRM leaders to deliver services to the citizens.

She handed over to Ms Grace Kwiyucwiny as new state minister for Northern Uganda.

Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, who presided over the event in his office at the Office of the Prime Minister asked the new ministers not to frustrate service delivery through bureaucracy and protracted paper work.
First Lady Janet Museveni, now Education minister also handed over the portfolio of minister for Karamoja Affairs to Mr John Byabagambi.

“I thank the Prime Minister and the entire team at the Office of the Prime Minister for their support during the time I have been with them,” Ms Museveni said.
At the same event, Ms Sarah Kataike handed over the portfolio of state minister for Luweero Affairs to Mr Dennis Galabuzi Ssozi while Ms Christine Aporu handed over the office of minister of State Teso to Ms Agnes Akiror.
Mr Musa Echweru maintained his post as state minister for Disaster Preparedness.

Handover at the President's office

At the President’s Office Mr Frank Tumwebaze handed over twice to Ms Esther Mbayo as the Minister for Presidency and to Ms Beti Kamya as the Minister for Kampala. He had been holding both portfolios which have now been split.
Mr Tumwebaze now holds the Minister of Information and ICT docket.

Mr Abdul Nadduli assumed office of the Minister Without Portfolio and pledged to mobilise the population for government programmes through community events, including burials, weddings and church prayers, among others.

Mr Henry Banyenzaki handed over the docket for state minister for Economic Monitoring to Mr Baltazar Kasirivu-Atwooki.

Outgoing state minister in Vice President’s Office, Mr Vincent Nyanzi, handed over to his successor, Mr Alex Ozima, and warned him not to lavish financial pledges at public ceremonies because the office is entangled in huge debts.
Meanwhile, the new Health minister, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, has issued new rules asking all health workers to report for duty at 8am and only leave at 5pm.

After receiving office from Dr Elioda Tumwesigye on Thursday, Dr Aceng, in her maiden speech vowed to punish health officials who report for work past 8am and leave before 5pm.
Dr Chris Baryomunsi handed over to Ms Sarah Opendi as new state minister for General Guties.
Ms Opendi handed over her ministry for Primary Healthcare to new entrant, Dr Joyce Kaducu Moriku.