For years, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has carried a reputation of being one of the most sensitive offices in Uganda, largely because of its close connection to national security, immigration, policing and other matters that touch directly on the lives and security of the people of Uganda.
The ministry has traditionally been seen as an office where access to the minister was not always easy, with many people approaching its leadership with caution because of the weight and sensitivity of the responsibilities attached to it.
But in just weeks since his appointment by President Museveni as State Minister for Internal Affairs, Hon. Juma Witonze has changed that atmosphere, turning an office that many people regarded with apprehension into one where people from different walks of life can walk in, interact with the minister and seek guidance with considerably less difficulty.
The change has been noticeable in the way Witonze has opened himself up to visitors, politicians, community leaders, the youth, journalists, and other members of the public seeking to engage him on different issues.
Instead of maintaining a distant posture normally associated with security-related offices, Witonze has embraced a more accessible approach, allowing people to freely interact with him, make inquiries and present their concerns.
For a ministry whose work is closely associated with security and regulation, that accessibility could prove to be an important strength.
Witonze’s approach is also consistent with the political journey that brought him to the ministerial table. Unlike politicians whose careers have been built mainly around electoral victories, Witonze accumulated much of his experience through mobilization, organization and engagement with communities.
That background appears to have shaped his understanding of how to deal with everyone.
In the weeks since assuming office, the ministry has increasingly appeared less like a distant government office and more like a place where people feel comfortable coming to engage their minister and other officials.
That may sound like a small administrative change, but in a ministry dealing with security, immigration and other highly sensitive matters, the human face of leadership matters.
A minister who is accessible can hear concerns before they become bigger problems, understand the frustrations of citizens dealing with government systems and provide a channel through which communities can communicate directly with the state.
Witonze’s emerging style represents more than personal friendliness. It is an extension of the mobilization skills he has developed over time.
