MPs reject Prof. Kabwegyere over age

By Henry Sekanjako and Moses Walubiri

Parliament’s appointments committee has rejected presidential nominee Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere as minister for gender, labour and social development.

The committee, which started its work at noon on Monday, first had a meeting lasting about 30 minutes.

Sources said Kabwegyere was rejected on grounds of his advanced age and that he opposed the Domestic Relations Bill that was later split into the Marriage and Divorce Bill.

“We have rejected Kabwgyere. He opposed the Domestic Relations Bill and he is on record,” a female source, who preferred anonymity, told journalists.

Kabwegyere, who appeared before the committee at about 2:00pm, was there for about one minute before he was asked to leave.

“The committee has told me it is going to have some consultations with the appointing authority and that they would call me back,” Kabwgyere told journalists on Monday.

According to the official 7th Parliament directory, Kabwegyere was born on April, 26 1941, which makes him 71 years old.

Before he was dropped in the last reshuffle, Kabwegyere was minister for relief, refugees and disaster preparedness.

Meanwhile, the committee, which is chaired by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, approved ministers Frank Tumwebaze, (presidency) Richard Todwong (without portfolio/ political mobilisation) Gabriel Ajedra Aridru (investment) and Ernest Kiiza (Bunyoro affairs).

Bank of Uganda board members were also vetted, but it was not clear whether they were approved or not.

Tumwebaze told journalists that his first task would be to study the KCCA law and also improve the relationship between the Lord Mayor and the executive director.

By press time, a number of nominees were yet to be vetted. These were Aidah Nantaba (lands), Sarah Kataike (health — general duties) and Rosemary Najjemba (urban development).