Seven months ago, President Museveni unveiled a Cabinet laden with professionals. The President won the February election by landslide against a backdrop of his scores in the 2006 and 2001 ballots, each dropping by roughly 10-percentage points. Towering inflation, a rapidly sliding Ugandan currency and sudden eruption of civil rebellion in the appellation of walk-to-work caught the then lapsing government unprepared. Separate strikes by public transporters (taxi drivers), lawyers, teachers and Kampala traders also left the country yearning for tangible solutions. Besides, the sight of elderly women hammering empty saucepans during a street demonstration as a sign they could no longer put food on the table for their families cast Museveni’s leadership as out-of-touch with people’s teething troubles.
More professionals on board
His answer in the May Cabinet reshuffle was starkly contrasting as well as assuring. He appointed accomplished women such as Ms Maria Kiwanuka, Pediatrician Christine Ondoa and Ms Irene Muloni - and gave them the big ticket ministries of Finance, Health and Energy respectively.But the public expectation that a dream Cabinet lineup would turn things around sadly remains unfulfilled. Load-shedding is at its worst, stifling businesses; a teacher in Mbale made headlines when she died in labour, reportedly ignored at Mbale Hospital; an under-reported strike by intern doctors and nurses caused dozens of avoidable deaths at Mulago Referral Hospital while inflation jumped to 30 per cent, the highest in 18 years, eroding previous economic gains.
Inflation might have started cooling in recent weeks amid the central government’s tightened fiscal policy and the Shilling is bouncing back against the US dollar after months of free fall, but the damage has already been done.Now a resurgent war against corruption, waged by NRM-leaning MPs said to be pawns for historicals in rival cliques, has dragged government to a political gridlock.Presidency Minister Kabakumba Masiko threw in the towel when she could no longer endure the heat fanned by legislators energised by police detectives’ unearthing that King’s FM, a private FM in Bunyoro in which the minister holds majority shares, illegally tapped a UBC mast and transmitter.Ms Masiko’s resignation brought to five the number of vacant Cabinet posts. Parliament’s Appointments Committee had, during vetting in June, questioned the designation of Henry Muganwa Kajura as substantive Public Service minister (although Mr Museveni clung to him) and former city mayor Nasser Ntege Ssebagala as Minister without Portfolio. Others included James Kakooza (Primary Health Care), Mbabali Muyanja (Investment) and Saleh Kamba (Bunyoro Affairs).Besides, three ministers have “stepped aside” to face trial for corruption. That means eight ministers are effectively not in office. With MPs baying for the blood of Gender Minister Syda Bbumba, her Information counterpart Karooro Okurut and Prof. Khiddu Makubuya, ministerial vacancies could soon reach 11 or 13 per cent of the 79-member Cabinet including the President.
The lack of a dent in running of government as a result of missing ministers has offered ammunition to critics that Mr Museveni appoints many ministers for patronage, and not effective service delivery as purported.Matembe’s take
“Museveni’s Cabinet ceased to be of competence and service delivery long time ago,” said Ms Miria Matembe, a former Ethics minister. The appointments, she said, are either to lure or silence critics or reward loyalists. The Constitution allows the President to assign junior ministers to take charge in the absence of their seniors, reducing the risk of leadership vacuum and political oversight.Presidential Spokesman Tamale Mirundi said where bureaucrats led by permanent secretaries are efficient and a budding private sector demystifies the necessity for government, absence of ministers cannot be felt because service delivery continues uninterrupted. He agrees a lean Cabinet is possible but says the “problem is that a government is seen as a mirror and each tribe, religion and interest group wants to feature.” “That is how we have a big Cabinet. The alternative could stir civil strife and is worse,” he said.
More professionals on board
His answer in the May Cabinet reshuffle was starkly contrasting as well as assuring. He appointed accomplished women such as Ms Maria Kiwanuka, Pediatrician Christine Ondoa and Ms Irene Muloni - and gave them the big ticket ministries of Finance, Health and Energy respectively.
His answer in the May Cabinet reshuffle was starkly contrasting as well as assuring. He appointed accomplished women such as Ms Maria Kiwanuka, Pediatrician Christine Ondoa and Ms Irene Muloni - and gave them the big ticket ministries of Finance, Health and Energy respectively.
But the public expectation that a dream Cabinet lineup would turn things around sadly remains unfulfilled. Load-shedding is at its worst, stifling businesses; a teacher in Mbale made headlines when she died in labour, reportedly ignored at Mbale Hospital; an under-reported strike by intern doctors and nurses caused dozens of avoidable deaths at Mulago Referral Hospital while inflation jumped to 30 per cent, the highest in 18 years, eroding previous economic gains.
Inflation might have started cooling in recent weeks amid the central government’s tightened fiscal policy and the Shilling is bouncing back against the US dollar after months of free fall, but the damage has already been done.
Now a resurgent war against corruption, waged by NRM-leaning MPs said to be pawns for historicals in rival cliques, has dragged government to a political gridlock.
Presidency Minister Kabakumba Masiko threw in the towel when she could no longer endure the heat fanned by legislators energised by police detectives’ unearthing that King’s FM, a private FM in Bunyoro in which the minister holds majority shares, illegally tapped a UBC mast and transmitter.
Ms Masiko’s resignation brought to five the number of vacant Cabinet posts. Parliament’s Appointments Committee had, during vetting in June, questioned the designation of Henry Muganwa Kajura as substantive Public Service minister (although Mr Museveni clung to him) and former city mayor Nasser Ntege Ssebagala as Minister without Portfolio. Others included James Kakooza (Primary Health Care), Mbabali Muyanja (Investment) and Saleh Kamba (Bunyoro Affairs).
Besides, three ministers have “stepped aside” to face trial for corruption. That means eight ministers are effectively not in office. With MPs baying for the blood of Gender Minister Syda Bbumba, her Information counterpart Karooro Okurut and Prof. Khiddu Makubuya, ministerial vacancies could soon reach 11 or 13 per cent of the 79-member Cabinet including the President.
The lack of a dent in running of government as a result of missing ministers has offered ammunition to critics that Mr Museveni appoints many ministers for patronage, and not effective service delivery as purported.
Matembe’s take
“Museveni’s Cabinet ceased to be of competence and service delivery long time ago,” said Ms Miria Matembe, a former Ethics minister. The appointments, she said, are either to lure or silence critics or reward loyalists. The Constitution allows the President to assign junior ministers to take charge in the absence of their seniors, reducing the risk of leadership vacuum and political oversight.
“Museveni’s Cabinet ceased to be of competence and service delivery long time ago,” said Ms Miria Matembe, a former Ethics minister. The appointments, she said, are either to lure or silence critics or reward loyalists. The Constitution allows the President to assign junior ministers to take charge in the absence of their seniors, reducing the risk of leadership vacuum and political oversight.
Presidential Spokesman Tamale Mirundi said where bureaucrats led by permanent secretaries are efficient and a budding private sector demystifies the necessity for government, absence of ministers cannot be felt because service delivery continues uninterrupted. He agrees a lean Cabinet is possible but says the “problem is that a government is seen as a mirror and each tribe, religion and interest group wants to feature.” “That is how we have a big Cabinet. The alternative could stir civil strife and is worse,” he said.
Author: Tabu Butagira (email the author)
emailadress: tbutagira@ug.nationmedia.com
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