Museveni to address Cabinet retreat
Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda addresses journalists as NRM secretary general Kasule Lumumba looks on in Kampala yesterday. Photo by Alex Esagala
Kampala- After months of restless political combat, President Museveni today convenes a special Cabinet meeting to discuss his fifth elective term agenda as he tries to rejuvenate a presidency his critics say is mired in “low approval ratings” largely due to corruption, a disputed election and poor coordination within his government.
The week-long Kyankwanzi retreat to be attended by ministers, permanent secretaries and NRM’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) is premised on Mr Museveni’s dream of taking Uganda to a middle-income status.
The retreat, orgainised through the NRM secretariat and in conjunction with the Office of the Prime Minister, is under the theme: Sustaining steady progress: Cabinet cohesion, efficiency and effectiveness for enhanced service delivery and job creation.
Information and ICT minister Frank Tumwebaze said the retreat is meant to enable ministers and permanent secretaries re-align their sectoral plans with the priorities the President enumerated at the inaugural session of Cabinet.
However, senior government officials close to corridors of power told this newspaper that the retreat will also discuss the pros and cons of the planned bailout to selected companies and undisclosed constitutional amendments, among others things.
“The retreat essentially is about coordination and harmonisation of government plans, all geared towards the common objective of taking Uganda to a middle income status at the earliest,” Mr Tumwebaze said, adding: “The President will give a key-note address, it will be discussed extensively and thereafter different sectoral presentations will also be made in the course of the week.”
After promising “a term of action” as he tries to invigorate his 30-year leadership, Mr Museveni is expected to remind the meeting about taking Uganda to middle income status by 2020 and revamping service delivery, focusing on social services and fighting corruption while charting a new path forward.
Speaking to Daily Monitor ahead of the meeting, the State Minister for Microfinance, Mr Haruna Keyune, and other ministers pointed out the need to improve on accountability and also spell out the role of permanent secretaries whom they accused of undermining the political leadership.
“Ministers cannot be kicked around by technical people. Ministers should regain their power. In this retreat, we must emphasise collective responsibility vis-à-vis intrigue among ministers because we are serving the same government,” Mr Kyeyune said.
But Mr Kagole Kivumbi (Judicial Service Commission), Mr Pius Bigirimana (Gender) and other accounting officers who talked to this newspaper denied the accusations of undermining ministers.
“The custodian of public funds is the PS and the relationship with the ministers and the accounting officers is like that of a husband and a wife,” Mr Bigirimana said.
“This retreat is going to help us strengthen the coordination mechanism so as to improve service delivery and accountability,” he added.
Ms Lydia Wanyoto, the chairperson of NRM Women’s League, a member of NRM’s CEC, said the discussions will align sectors and build networks needed in the implementation of the NRM manifesto.
