Kabwegyere thrown out of appointments committee

By Henry Sekanjako

The Parliamentary appointments committee on Monday afternoon threw out a ministerial nominee for gender, labour and social development Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere.

The committee is chaired by the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga and it’s closed to the press.

Kabwegyere who was the second to appear before the committee after Frank Tumwebaze was told to wait until the committee seeks a clarification from the President.

 “I was told that I will be considered after clarification from the President. They will get back to me in four days’ time,” Kabwegyere told reporters.

Third to be vetted was Richard Todwong.  

The new ministers that are set to be vetted include Sarah Kataike (Health), Frank Tumwebaze (Presidency), Earnest Kiiza (Bunyoro affairs), Rose Najjemba (Urban Planning), Shem Bagaine deputy (East African Affairs), Aidah Nantaba (Lands) and Richard Todwong (without portfolio /Political mobilization).

Last week President Museveni wrote to the speaker of parliament Rebecca kadaga notifying her of the names of the new cabinet nominees after a cabinet reshuffle that saw many of the old ministers retained.

The President also forwarded to parliament the list of the board members for the Bank of Uganda for approval. They include James Kahoza, Ibrahim Kabanda Chris kassami, William Kalema and Jude Guma.

The committee requires the candidates to come along with their academic documents as a requirement for their endorsement.

Other perquisites include personal integrity, personality and previous working experience. The committee has in the past rejected individuals like Margret Mbeiza, Nasser Ntege Ssebagala, James Kakooza, on academic and personality grounds.