{UAH} Allan/Pojim/WBK: Excitement, anxiety hit MPs over cabinet jobs

http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/44303-excitement-anxiety-hit-mps-over-cabinet-jobs

Excitement, anxiety hit MPs over cabinet jobs

Written by Sadab Kitatta Kaaya

President Museveni is set to announce his next cabinet

On Thursday, after the newly-inaugurated 10th parliament picks its speaker and deputy, the House will constitute two important committees – for Appointments and for Business.  

The appointments committee is now crucial because it will vet President Museveni's ministerial nominees. At this time heightened fears among outgoing ministers are coinciding with growing anxiety among MPs about who will or who won't be in cabinet.

"The president will announce a new cabinet sometime next week, I don't know whether I will retain my position or he will retire me…" said Henry Banyenzaki, a losing candidate in the February 18 parliamentary and outgoing minister of state for Economic Monitoring.

Banyenzaki said while officiating at a journalists' training on "Implications of Chinese investment on forest land use" at Eureka hotel, Ntinda.

Before becoming minister in 2011, Banyenzaki belonged to a group of outspoken MPs who criticized many government actions. His appointment was largely seen as a way of hushing him up although dissent within the NRM parliamentary ranks soared after his departure.  

In interviews on Monday, MPs shared their thoughts on what would inform President Museveni's choice of ministers in his sixth term. The Constitution allows the president to pick ministers from outside parliament. But Museveni always picks majority of his ministers from among MPs. That choice, according to insiders, allows the president to keep in touch with the electorate through elected leaders.

The preference for MPs also ensures the president keeps a tight leash on Parliament by dangling ministerial jobs or prospects. That way, ruling NRM MPs keep endearing themselves to their potential employer in case of a reshuffle or if they are tapped to fill a vacancy, which is always there.

In all cabinets, the president leaves some positions vacant. During their inauguration on Monday and Tuesday, some MPs openly talked about their chances of making it to cabinet.

"The making of the cabinet is a prerogative of the president; he has many considerations, compromises and balances to strike," an MP told The Observer on Monday. 

Museveni's last cabinet reshuffle of March 2015 appeared to have been influenced by the desire to neutralize the threat posed by the sacked former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi.

For instance, Evelyn Anite, who led the push in 2014 for the ruling NRM MPs to endorse President Museveni as the party sole presidential candidate at Kyankwanzi, got into cabinet as minister of state for Children and Youth Affairs.

While the inclusion of Ndorwa West's David Bahati was also seen as a political reward for his role in neutralizing Mbabazi. The appointment of Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi and former Kisoro LC-V Chairman Philemon Mateke spoke volumes about Museveni's intent to maintain control over Kigezi sub-region, home of Mbabazi, a losing former presidential candidate and his main challenger, FDC's Dr Kizza Besigye.

The president had, earlier, appointed Dr Ruhakana Rugunda also from Kigezi to replace Mbabazi as prime minister.

LOBBYING

An MP from Buganda told this writer that being the NRM chairman of his district and the only senior politician from the district because he is into his second parliamentary term, he stood a higher chance of becoming ministerial.

The exit of the likes of NRM treasurer Rose Namayanja Nsereko from elective politics is also being seen as an opportunity for some politicians to position themselves for a ministerial appointment.

Namayanja made it to cabinet after leading the Buganda Parliamentary caucus, the leading lobby group in Parliament and anyone heading this pro-Buganda group is assumed to have close ties with Mengo, the seat of Buganda kingdom.

Whereas Museveni has some pro-Buganda ministers in cabinet like the outgoing state minister for Primary Education, John Chrysostom Muyingo, some Buganda caucus leaders see him as not representative enough of the interests of the young generation of Buganda loyalists.

Returning to Parliament as Mwenge North MP, Tom Butime told The Observer that Museveni bases his decision on various sources of information and recommendations.

"The president has a lot of sources of information [people] that he asks to spot for him people he can work with. He is also likely to consult the NRM secretariat to recommend," Butime said after swearing in on Monday. Butime held various cabinet portfolios before turning down a 2006 posting as minister of state for Karamoja.

Asked if he would take up another appointment from Museveni, the retired military officer answered in the affirmative.

Another former minister who preferred not to be named said: "He [Museveni] takes some time studying you, he deploys his intelligence personnel to trail you and when he gets satisfied, he calls you to seek your opinion."

Asked in a Monday interview how she got into cabinet, outgoing Security minister Mary Karooro Okurut said curtly: "The president saw me fit; I never lobbied."

SYNDICATE

In the corridors of Parliament, there's speculation about a new cabinet list, which suggests that Frank Tumwebaze is likely to be moved from his current docket as minister for the Presidency to Information and National Guidance while Kitagwenda MP Abbas Agaba Mugisha may replace Tumwebaze.

Muhwezi, who lost his Rujumbura seat to FDC's Fred Tumuheirwe Turyamuhweza, is said to be headed to Internal Affairs while Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde, the former director general of the Internal Security Organization (ISO) may be posted to head a new docket for oil and gas.

Hellen Adoa, who defeated FDC strongwoman Alice Alaso, is likely to be rewarded with an appointment as state minister for Primary Education. Muyingo, the current holder of the docket, could move to Luweero Triangle.

Former FDC MP Christopher Kibanzanga, who returned to Parliament as an NRM MP for Bughendera, may, according to sources, be appointed as minister of state for Internal Affairs; while Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire who lost to Captain Dononzio Kahonda in Ruhinda county, is reportedly being considered to be elevated to deputy prime minister.

But Butime warned his colleagues not to be  carried away by the speculation and rumours.

"There is a syndicate of people who think that they can fool young politicians and new MPs," Butime said. "Some of them go as far asking them to pay them so that they [MPs] get included on the cabinet list." 

sadabkk@observer.ug

Excitement, anxiety hit MPs over cabinet jobs 

http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/44303-excitement-anxiety-hit-mps-over-cabinet-jobs

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