{UAH} Ex-Ministers, MPs Hunt for Govt Jobs
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Uganda: Ex-Ministers, MPs Hunt for Govt Jobs
Fearing poverty and political oblivion, politicians who lost seats in the February 2016 general elections are lobbying hard for government jobs, The Observer has learnt.
According to our sources, some of them have in the last six months approached the Government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa, the political assistant to the NRM chairman Molly Kamukama, and members of the first family, lobbying for government employment.
During a recent interaction with members of the Uganda Parliamentary Press Association (UPPA), Nankabirwa confirmed that politicians who lost their jobs have been lobbying her office. Nankabirwa attributed this to the politicians' financial indiscipline.
The NRM chief whip, however, later declined to say more, saying she did not want to embarrass her colleagues. But one former legislator who declined to be named said on Thursday that the politicians turned to Nankabirwa's office because she was asked by President Museveni to handle their issues.
"It was during the caucus meeting [that] we had after the elections [on March 11] that the president handed us to her after members begged him for jobs. Many have written heavy dissertations (sic) of their CVs and taken them to her and other offices," the former MP said.
JOB HUNTING
One of the high-profile casualties of the last elections is former attorney general and Nakawa MP Freddie Ruhindi. To earn a living, Ruhindi has since revived his law firm, Ruhindi & Company advocates on Raja chambers along Parliamentary avenue.
However, according to NRM sources, Ruhindi has his sights set on the position of chairman of the Electoral Commission when Badru Kiggundu's term of office expires next month.
Interviewed, Ruhindi confirmed his CV was in a number of government offices but denied lobbying particularly for the EC top job.
"It is true my CV is everywhere because I am the former attorney general of Uganda, but I am not aware of that. I also heard some things in the media about it but I am not aware of anything," Ruhindi said on Thursday.
Some of his former cabinet colleagues such as Sarah Kataike Ndoboli (state for Luweero) and Rebecca Amuge Otengo (state for Northern Uganda) are reported to be working with Museveni's younger brother Gen Caleb Akandwanaho aka Salim Saleh in Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), where another former MP Benjamin Cadet (Bunyaruguru) is reported to have scooped a contract to supply seedlings.
Former Sheema Woman MP Rosemary Nyakikongoro was recently appointed a member of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). She is also said to be keen on competing for the East African Legislative Assembly.
BAILOUT?
During the March 11 NRM caucus meeting, Museveni promised the politicians some kind of 'financial push' for them to venture into agriculture or the services sector. As they wait for Museveni to deliver on his promise, some former lawmakers are already into farming.
"I can't go begging for a job like a fresh university graduate; I can't be that desperate... You know some of us get into those positions and forget about planning for the life after," a former MP said.
Among those into farming is former Kakuuto MP Mathias Kasamba who has an expansive farm at Ttome, Kakuuto, in Rakai district.
"If my farm gives me Shs 6m a week, what do I need a government job for?" Kasamba said, before adding, "but if they feel that my services are needed anywhere, I am always willing to serve."
Earlier reports had suggested that Kasamba would be appointed to head the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) but the job eventually went to one Emmanuel Iyamuremye.
Others who have embraced farming included Dr Crispus Kiyonga, the former minister of defence, who is said to be the biggest pineapple grower in Kasese district.
The former MPs have also formed an association named "Members of the Ninth Parliament Association," which is in its final stages of registration. Through the association, they hope to benefit economically and socially from the government.
"In the past, when an MP lost an election, they disappeared... Many colleagues who were in the seventh and eighth parliaments have disappeared, and that is why we decided to form this association to better our economic and social wellbeing," former Tororo MP Sanjay Tanna told The Observer on Friday.
"There is nothing strange in this. Many of us are in [different sectors] where we can benefit each other. It is basically to harness our [different] skills," Tanna added.
Tanna is the association's interim chairman, deputised by former Bubulo East MP Simon Mulongo.
Other leaders of the group are Edward Baliddawa, Tim Lwanga, Lulume Bayiga, Boaz Kafuda and Harriet Ntabazi.
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