The 2021-2026 cabinet has ended its duties. Ministers have been told to hand over the duties of their offices to permanent secretaries. They held their last cabinet meeting on Monday. President reportedly thanked them for what he considers a job well-done.
This was the Cabinet of fishmongers according to President Yoweri Museveni who appointed them. In calling them fishmongers, perhaps Museveni was asking us not to expect much from them.
He was telling us; they are not fit for the purpose for which they appointed. The President’s description of his Cabinet wasn’t without first prompting. The composition of this cabinet had surprised not just the country but also some of the ministers who had been appointed themselves.
From Jesca Alupo who had just returned as woman MP of Katakwi district after five years out in the cold being appointed Vice President to Robinah Nabbanja the Kakumiro woman MP being appointed Prime Minister, all left the country talking. Did the President release a wrong list; many asked. Not so many expected that they would survive the entire five years in the cabinet.
Not so much because they were outliers in positions, they were appointed which once were held by the most polished of the politicians such as Amama Mbabazi, Prof. Apollo Nsibambi or Samson Kisekka, but because of the precedent of midterm cabinet reshuffle that had been set.
The only two persons to be dropped in the 2021-2026 cabinet were Agnes Nandutu and Mary Goretti Kitutu; both ministers of Karamoja for stealing of iron sheets meant for the vulnerable people of Karamoja they were given responsibility of being minister for.
Speaking about iron sheets, the 2021-2026 cabinet will be remembered most for being the cabinet where half of its members were implicated in the same crime of stealing iron sheets for which only Nandutu was successfully charged, convicted and sentenced to four-year imprisonment at Luzira Prison.
For President Museveni, this cabinet will be remembered for playing a part in Uganda climbing the middle-income status radar. Never mind that this acclaim is disputed by among others the World Bank. In statement from the State House Presidential Press Unit, Museveni today hosted a luncheon in honour of the outgoing cabinet at State House, Entebbe.
In his last address to the ministers which to some will be the very last that he will make in that capacity, Museveni thanked them for the collective effort, discipline, and commitment that has seen Uganda scale heights.
“The President also acknowledged the team’s role in the recent electoral process, describing the outcome as a collective achievement, while expressing confidence in continued economic growth in the coming term,” the statement reads in part.
He called upon the ministers to renew their commitment to, “integrity, accountability, and patriotism in public service.” Many must have received Museveni’s address with abated breath. Will they make it to the next Cabinet? Unlike the 2021 general election that witnessed an electoral bloodbath for ministers especially in Buganda region, this time few ministers failed to make it back to parliament.
Museveni has always cut loose losers. Once you fail in elections, he wouldn’t touch you even with a long stick. So, as the clock ticks away to May 12 when Museveni will take yet another oath of office that will extend his term of office to 45 years assuming he completes this term in 2031, anxiety is building among the outgoing Cabinet on who will make it to the new one.
In the last few months, many have been positioning themselves to eat big. Whoever is perceived as having the President’s ears has lately been on high demand.
Just the other week when Muhoozi Kainerugaba the Chief of Defense Forces and son of the President was celebrating his 52nd birthday, anybody who thinks of himself/herself as being a member to the next Cabinet made a presence.
Those who could not because of other serious engagements, at least used millions of shillings to buy running kits. This term 2026-2031 has been billed as the transitional term. After 45years of one-man rule, it is expected he might, just might name his successor.
Now, everyone wants to be in the room where that decision will be made if at all, it will ever be made. The stakes for the next cabinet couldn’t be much higher-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com.
