The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Makerere University History Don, Ndebesa Wambutsya has revealed that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s appointments of the new cabinet indicate that he is not planning on retiring anytime soon.
Museveni few days ago named his cabinet with some of the names in the list taking Ugandans by surprise.
Former Education Minister and Katakwi Woman MP Jessica Alupo is the Vice President replacing Edward Ssekandi who was dropped. Another surprise in the cabinet list was that of the Prime Minister given to former Minister of Health in charge of General duties Robinah Nabbanja. She replaced Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda who has been named special envoy Office of the President.
Now Ndebesa says that the recent appointments indicate that President Museveni is still fully taking charge and not thinking about transition, or does not have any plans of quitting soon.
He says that because the position of Vice President and Prime Minister is key when it comes to who takes charge after the President, the appointment of the two top leaders indicate that it is the President and not the two leaders running the show.
He says this also indicates that perhaps the President was not grooming someone to take over from him. He says the Vice President and even Prime Minister is the potential president and these two appointments do not show that.
Ndebesa says that the appointments were more of a show of gender sensitivity by the President but also in strong consideration of regional balance and not integration, and for the future of a transition looking at nation building or healing.
About the other appointments, Ndebesa says that the President has simply rewarded political allies, and also put in some technocrats which is a good thing since they have been appointed for efficiency. He says for transitional purposes, the former speaker Rebecca Kadaga could have been given the Prime Minister or Vice President among others.
President Museveni has led Uganda since 1986 after taking over power. Talks of transition even within the ruling party, the NRM remain unheard of.
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