4 NEW VISION, Wednesday, June 8, 2016 NATIONAL NEWS Opposition split over new Cabinet

By Vision Reporter Mbidde said. SCHOLARS’ SAY President Yoweri Museveni’s LOP Winnie Kiiza wants To Dr. Sabiiti new Cabinet has split the legal interpretation Makara, a don at Opposition leaders, with some Although the Leader of Makerere University’s protesting the appointment of Opposition in Parliament, department of social their members as ministers, Winnie Kiiza, is happy with the sciences and Dr. without consulting their increased number of female Mwambutsya Ndebesa, political parties first. ministers in the Cabinet, she Museveni’s choice The Democratic Party (DP) wants a legal interpretation of of ministers in the president, Norbert Mao, has the appointments involving Opposition has not warned that Florence Nakiwala members of the Opposition. come as a surprise. Kiyingi would face disciplinary Speaking to journalists at “The Opposition action should she assume the Parliament yesterday, Kiiza ministerial post that was given argued that the appointment appointed to the to her by President Museveni. of members of the Opposition Cabinet have In the new Cabinet announced to Cabinet is only possible in a allegedly been quietly on Monday, DP’s Nakiwala was government of national unity. working with him. named new Minister of State for “This is wrong and illegal. Their appointment Children and Youth Affairs. We need a legal interpretation makes their working Others are Oyam South MP of the appointment before the arrangement public,” Betty Amongi (UPC), who members are approved,” she Makara opines. is also the wife of the party said. Asked whether president, Jimmy Akena. She “While I am happy with their not appointing a was named as lands minister, DP member Gerald Siranda and Mao addressing journalists during a press conference appointment because they are single politician from Uganda Federal Alliance at the DP headquarters in Kampala yesterday. Photo by Nancy Nanyonga hardworking women, I wonder FDC is isolating it, president Beti Olive Kamya, what they will present in Makara says: “The the new Minister for Kampala MINISTERS FROM OPPOSITION SPEAK OUT Cabinet. I also wonder whether appointments will capital City Authority and UPC the President will let them do undercut UPC; DP and stalwart, Ruth Acheng, as state what they are supposed to do,” FDC has no reason to minister for fisheries. she added. worry.” However, during a press Former Forum for Democratic Ndebesa, however, briefing at the party offices Change chief whip Cecilia says the Cabinet is yesterday, Mao said he knew Ogwal, was concerned that the gender-insensitive, with about the behind-the-scenes President did not follow the all the top positions consultations that preceded proper procedure in appointing (President, Vice- Nakiwala’s appointment. Opposition politicians in his President and Prime “I cannot stand here and Cabinet. She said hand-picking Minister and deputies) pretend that I did not know a few people does not answer Beti Kamya Betty Amongi all occupied by men. about the consultations that Nakiwala Kiyingi the concerns of the Opposition. Cissy Kagaba, the were going on. I was fully aware. I have not crossed to My party endorsed my My appointment gives me the NRM. A government an opportunity to serve. executive director of Nakiwala was approached by new appointment. Lango MPs’ view the Anti-Corruption the Catholic Church, which had of national unity does I am ready to serve. It does not present any Meanwhile, a number of NRM not require people to legal challenge because Coalition Uganda, been approached by President Wherever you are, you MPs from Lango sub-region are was concerned that Museveni. I was briefed about abandon their parties. have a brick to add to the President is allowed reportedly up in arms over the People just work together under the Constitution to the Cabinet has been the conversations that were Uganda, despite party appointment of the two Opposition expanded. “That is not going on and I was asked for and my approach will be loyalty, tribe and religion. appoint anybody minister, members from their region. teamwork. regardless of their party. good news because it my opinion.” The MPs, who declined to be will increase the cost of “I stated that as the DP, we do named, said it was unfair for the public administration,” He said when DP leader join any government without not believe that any member of DP vice-president Mukasa President to appoint Opposition she said. Benedicto Kiwanuka agreed an institutional protocol,” Mao the Opposition should join the Mbidde, interviewed separately, members and leave out people “To deliver the to serve as Chief Justice under said. National Resistance Movement said the new Cabinet is an who have worked for the NRM. President’s promise the Amin regime, he ended up He argued that the inclusion of Government without dialogue attempt by Museveni to create But Felix Okot-Ogongo, of Uganda joining being killed by the regime. people like Nakiwala, Amongi that can enable the country harmony in the wake of a hotly the chairman of the Lango the league of middle- In 1986, Mao explained, and Kamya is “despicable to heal. But if she chooses to contested presidential poll. parliamentary group, said he income countries, we DP leaders met Museveni in tokenism”. serve, no one from the NRM “Unfortunately, he has done it was happy that the President will need to match an Nabbingo, Wakiso district and “We reject tokenism because should come out to say DP is wrongly because none of those had appointed three ministers increase in the cost of reached what they termed it simply means trading a few represented in Cabinet,” Mao Opposition figures appointed from the region. public administration a gentleman’s agreement to crumbs for a fair share of the said. represents the aspirations of with increased revenue work with NRM. He said that loaf of political power. As the Mao argued that DP has had their parties. The President Compiled by Moses collection, which marriage did not end well. Igbo say, no one gets a mouthful a bad experience in the past should dialogue with the Walubiri, Cecilia Okoth, cannot be guaranteed,” “We have learnt our lessons of food by picking between working with ruling parties. Opposition and not cherry-pick Mary Karugaba and she added. and do not advise anyone to another person’s teeth,” he said. people for ministerial jobs,” John Odyek NRM legislators express mixed reactions about new ministers By John Odyek Betty Amongi, the Oyam South MP work,” Ogong said. Ogwang said. and UPC stalwart, has been appointed Kenneth Lubogo (Bulamogi County) Wamakuyu Mudimi (Elgon County) National Resistance Movement (NRM) the Minister of Lands, Housing and BETWEEN THE LINES: expressed surprise at the appointment said appointment of the Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) have Urban Development. Democratic  of Opposition politicians to Cabinet. would reduce tension between them expressed mixed reactions over the Party politician and former minister Some members argue that “Some of us are wondering whether and the Government. appointment of Opposition members in the Buganda kingdom government, this is a multiparty government, we have returned to the old Movement But he cautioned that the Opposition into Cabinet. Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, has been not one of national unity, which system of government. Maybe we need leaders in Cabinet could start pushing Some MPs say it was a good idea appointed state minister for youth and is the case when one fails to get to go back to the old system. It was their own goals. while others say it would ignite friction children affairs. The Uganda Federal the majority in Parliament. fair in terms of elections because one Hatwib Katoto (Katerera County) in the NRM party. Alliance (UFA) president, Beti Kamya, looked at individual merit,” Lubogo said whoever joins the NRM from the Stephen Mayende (Bukooli South) has been appointed the Minister for added. Opposition has to follow the NRM argued that the appointment of Kampala Capital City Authority. Ruth where one fails to get the majority in But Peter Ogwang (Usuk County) party manifesto. He added that he was Opposition members in Cabinet might Acheng, another UPC stalwart, has Parliament and gets extra support from defended the appointments, saying happy with the decision Museveni has cause problems for the party. He been appointed state minister for other parties,” Ogong said, arguing that they would create a government of made. argued that the Opposition had been fisheries. NRM took over 80% of the seats in national unity. Margaret Komuhangi, the Woman fighting NRM members and now they Felix Okot Ogong (Dokolo South) Parliament. “We shall support the Opposition MP for Nakasongola, said the Cabinet have been rewarded. wondered why Opposition politicians “I do not know of a law where a members who joined us in the was a national team. “If your wife and children work for were appointed into Cabinet, yet there member of the Opposition is allowed appointments committee and in the Sam Lyomoki, the Workers’ MP, noted something and when it is time to reap were other capable NRM members. to be appointed into the ruling House. We are trying to achieve a that the President has the prerogative results you give it to the neighbours, it “This is a multiparty government. It government. This is an issue of political middle income status by 2020 and so to appoint anyone minister, including is not good,” Mayende said. is not a government of national unity, expedience. I do not know how it will we need everybody to work together,” members of the Opposition.