Public service yet to appoint Kusasira, Buchaman

The Ministry of Public Service has said they have not received instructions from President Museveni to appoint musicians Mark Bugembe, alias Buchaman (right), and Ms Catherine Kusasira (left) as presidential advisers and as such, they are not considered as civil servants to receive salary.

The Ministry of Public Service has said they have not received instructions from President Museveni to appoint musicians Mark Bugembe, alias Buchaman, and Ms Catherine Kusasira as presidential advisers and as such, they are not considered as civil servants to receive salary.

Mr David Karubanga, the State Minister for Public Service, said much as the President has the prerogative to appoint his advisers, whenever he does, the appointments are accompanied with instructions to the Ministry of Public Service to forward the names to the Public Service Commission to vet the appointees for their suitability as well as sit interviews.

“The appointments are based on one’s social standing, it can be on technical competence, but we have not seen Buchaman and Kusasira’s appointments. We are even wondering where you are getting that information from,” he made the remarks at Namugongo Catholic Shrines during Mbarara Archdiocese Pilgrimage prayers yesterday.

Background
While meeting youth from the slums of Nateete and Kibuye about two weeks ago, President Museveni announced the appointment of the two musicians to counter-check Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi’s influence in the Ghetto.
This has unraveled feathers within the National Resistance Movement (NRM) with the Kampala NRM chairperson, Mr Salim Uhuru, saying he had not been consulted over the appointments claiming he would summon the new appointees.
Ms Kusasira on the other hand said she cannot be summoned by Mr Uhuru for a meeting organised by him because she must be requested to attend such gatherings or meetings in writing.

Public service orders
Appointment. According to the 2010 Ministry of Public Service standing orders, the President may delegate or revoke his or her powers of appointment under the Constitution by direction in writing to the relevant commission or any other authority or public officer as may be prescribed by Parliament.