The interim Prime Minister of Tooro Kingdom, Clavin Armstrong Rwomiire, has defended the composition of the newly appointed kingdom cabinet amid discontent over the exclusion of key figures from the previous administration and the limited representation of some counties.
Rwomiire said the 11-member cabinet, announced on Wednesday, would serve on an interim basis for six months, during which he would prioritise competence and the delivery of his assigned responsibilities.
Most of the appointees are from Fort Portal Tourism City, Kabarole and Bunyangabu districts, raising concerns among some kingdom subjects over the absence of representatives from the other six counties.
Among the notable figures dropped from the previous administration of the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV are former Deputy Prime Ministers Henry Basaliza and Harriet Nyakake, as well as former Minister for Education, Youth and Sports Francis Kateeba.
Responding to the concerns, Rwomiire said Omukama Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I had given him a six-month assignment, making it necessary to assemble a team he could work with to deliver on the mandate. He said those who had expected certain officials to retain their positions could still have opportunities to serve after the interim period or in other leadership capacities within the kingdom.
Rwomiire said the appointments were carefully considered and expressed confidence that the cabinet would demonstrate its effectiveness if allowed to implement its agenda without interference.
He argued that prioritising competence sometimes required compromises, including on geographical representation, adding that achieving a balance among all counties would have taken considerable time, yet the interim administration had only six months to deliver.
Rwomiire also pointed out that several leadership positions in kingdom committees and advisory structures were yet to be filled, providing further opportunities for people from different counties and clans to participate in the kingdom’s leadership-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
