KAMPALA – A section of Opposition MPs has scoffed at the recent cabinet reshuffle by President Yoweri Museveni, saying the group is simply comprised of dishonest people who betrayed the constitution and no service delivery should be expected from this lot.
Leading the jab was Leader of Opposition Betty Aol Ochan, who argued that the current cabinet has failed on service delivery and that they have left a legacy as perpetual absentees during plenary sittings and committee meetings something that has left many issues from the country unattended to.
Ochan notes that the reshuffle was merely meant to reward loyal cadres who fronted the controversial president age limit bill 2017 that saw Parliament vote to scrap off an age limit for presidential aspirants.
Among the new faces in cabinet that are said to have been rewarded for their role in defending the constitutional amendment was Igara West MP, Raphael Magyezi who was named Minister of Local Government, Jackson Kafuuzi (Kyaka South) who was named Deputy Attorney General having crafted the constitutional amendment bill, Robinah Nabanja (Kakumiro Woman MP), comes on as State Minister for Health General Duties, Peter Ogwang (Usuk County) as State Minister for ICT.
A number of MPs also weighed into the reshuffle with Lutamaguzi Ssemakula (Nakaseke South) who said there is nothing to be excited about in the new cabinet because these are the same people and a min reshuffle can’t create an impact in the society because service delivery is going to change overnight.
He said, “They have been rewarded because of their hypocrisy to the country you remember the majority of them were the architecture of age limit so the big man has awarded them for their loyalty, there is nothing much they are going to do. Personally, they are going to amass wealth, their status is going to change, but the people they serve, there is nothing much that will change within one year.”
Lutamaguzi argued that the quality is lacking with the current team and it is the same case with those who were sacked like Naduuli who will have to report to Full Figure or Catherine Kusasira, “Things change, imagine those two being their bosses. You are chosen as Presidential Advisor I hope by next Monday they would have reported.”
Wilfred Niwagaba, Shadow Attorney General also remarked, “The reshuffle came and we are happy about the youths that have joined the team but there isn’t much we should expect because this is a one-man Government, because no Minister can take a decision without consulting the President.”
Okot Ogong, Dokolo South described the new cabinet as a normal reshuffle because they are the same faces the country gets to see arguing, “Those same people will not give new breathe of leaders who are capable who have energy, the country at heart will not be given the opportunity. I am excited this time we have brilliant young people. I hope this time they will rise up to the occasion and do public work.”
However, Solomy Silwany Vice-Chairperson NRM caucus dismissed the assertion that the posts were rewards arguing that the reshuffle was meant to bring in people with various competencies as the NRM party prepares for the next general election.
