State House denies Major Nakalema exit
State House officials dismiss reports that President Museveni has sacked his personal assistant and private secretary Major Edith Nakalema.
Kampala. State House officials yesterday dismissed reports of the sacking of the President’s personal assistant, Maj Edith Nakalema.
Officials insisted that the influential soldier was still running President Museveni’s errands despite information from sources and word circulating on social media that she had been axed.
By press time, speculation was rife that President Museveni had in a radio message last week ordered that Maj Nakalema returns to the army barracks in Entebbe for redeployment.
Reports claimed that she was accused of inappropriate conduct in handling colleagues and guests.
This, sources intimated, follows a systematic overhaul of the presidency handlers and aides that saw long-serving presidential press secretary Tamale Mirundi sacked recently.
Ms Linda Nabusayi, the presidential press secretary told Daily Monitor in an interview yesterday that, “I am hearing it for the first time. She was with the president in Rwakitura on Sunday and is preparing to go with him to Masindi on operation wealth creation.”
Daily Monitor could not independently verify whether Maj Nakalema had indeed travelled with the Head of State to Masindi Ddistrict yesterday.
Ms Lucy Nakyobe, the State House comptroller who takes charge of the human resource and finance docket at State House, could not be reached for a comment by press time. Ms Nakalema too did not respond to our queries.
Mr Mirundi, in an interview with this newspaper said he would not be surprised if his former colleague was shown the exit. “This is election time and the President wants serious people around him. We have Amama Mbabazi who is a unique candidate. This man has infiltrated every sector of government,” he said.
The news of Maj Nakalema’s sacking or lack of it, takes on a twist of Mr Mirundi’s own dismissal which for weeks was denied till the vocal press secretary himself confirmed it later.
Who is Nakalema?
Appearing on Capital Gang talk show recently, President Museveni hinted at the powers that Maj Nakalema wielded. When callers to the show said the President was inaccessible, he replied that he was not in charge of his itinerary but goes where his aides take him. “There is a lady there called Nakalema, if you want to see me talk to her.” The substantive Principal private secretary to the President is Ms Mary Amajo but seems to be overshadowed by Maj Nakalema.
