A minister is always vulnerable - Nyombi

The state minister for ICT, Nyombi Thembo has talked of the "vulnerability" of ministers and attributed the failure of some of them to bounce back in the 10th parliament due to lack of time to attend to their constituents.

As many as 21 ministers lost their parliamentary seats in the February 18 elections.

Some of them, like justice and constitutional affairs minister Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire (Ruhinda County), decided to run as independents after losing in the NRM party primaries.

Education minister Jessica Alupo also decided to reclaim her seat as an NRM-leaning independent, but only went on to realize that the voters in Katakwi were not about to change their minds in the general elections.

But Nyombi, who lost his Kassanda County seat to former police publicist Simeo Nsubuga in the primaries, did not stand again.

And now he admits that ministers who are legislators are often constrained by "collective responsibility".

"Ministers have their own challenges because when you are a minister, there are things your electorate will want you to do which you can't do because of collective responsibility," he says.

"Sometimes you may not be able to give enough time to your constituents because you are also partaking some national duties."

Minister Kahinda Otafiire lost twice: in the NRM primaries and in the general elections

Nyombi also talks of pressure from the opposition side as well as internal rivalry as another challenge for ‘minister MPs'.

"Of course sometimes you will be fought by the opposition. Then internally [within the party] you will be fought by your people because some may think that when a slot is created possibly they will have also probability of becoming ministers. So you will be having people fighting you from all angles.

"A minister is always vulnerable."

Besides Otafiire and Alupo, other ministers who lost their parliamentary seats include: Irene Muloni (Bulambuli Woman MP), Rose Akol (Woman MP Bukedea), Alex Onzima (Maracha County), Fred Ruhindi (Nakawa Division), Henry Banyenzaki (Rubanda County West) and Asuman Kiyingi (Bugabula South).

Michael Werikhe (Bungokho South), Flavia Munaaba (Kaliro), Lukia Nakadama (Mayuge Woman MP and Sam Engola (Erute South) are also among those who suffered defeat.


(Additional reporting by Joseph Kizza)