Ministers take office today
Jun 06, 2011
THE designated ministers will swear in today and officially take over their offices. The ministers, who were approved by the appointments committee last week, will be sworn in at the State House in Entebbe.
By Catherine Bekunda
THE designated ministers will swear in today and officially take over their offices. The ministers, who were approved by the appointments committee last week, will be sworn in at the State House in Entebbe.
President Yoweri Museveni received the committee report on Friday and was expected to make a decision within 48 hours.
“The President does not write back to Parliament if he agrees with the report. It is only when he contests it that he refers the matter to the whole House,†said a source who preferred anonymity.
In case the President does not agree with the report, he will ask the whole House to debate on the fate of those rejected. If most MPs still reject them, the President will appoint other people for the vacant ministerial posts.
The committee last week rejected five ministerial appointees.
They are former Kampala mayor Nasser Sebaggala, who was rejected because of lack of qualifications and his criminal record in the US where he was imprisoned 10 years ago.
Others are James Kakooza and Muyanja Mbabali whose academic papers were queried.
Also, the fate of Lt. Saleh Kamba, nominated as state minister for Bunyoro Affairs, was referred to a legal team.
Flavia Munaaba (environment), who had earlier been deferred by the committee, was on Thursday evening cleared after producing documents from the Judicial Service Commission explaining circumstances under which she left office.
On Saturday, Munaaba said she had been invited for the swearing-in and was eager to take on the job.
The committee also suggested that Henry Muganwa Kajura, 77, surrenders the public service ministry, but remains the second deputy Premier.
However, Kakooza said he had received his invitation to the swearing-in, while Kamba had not yet. Sebaggala and Mbabaali could not be reached for comment.
The fate of East Moyo MP Moses Ali who was appointed as third Deputy Premier and deputy leader of government business also hangs in balance since the post is not provided for in the Constitution.
THE designated ministers will swear in today and officially take over their offices. The ministers, who were approved by the appointments committee last week, will be sworn in at the State House in Entebbe.
President Yoweri Museveni received the committee report on Friday and was expected to make a decision within 48 hours.
“The President does not write back to Parliament if he agrees with the report. It is only when he contests it that he refers the matter to the whole House,†said a source who preferred anonymity.
In case the President does not agree with the report, he will ask the whole House to debate on the fate of those rejected. If most MPs still reject them, the President will appoint other people for the vacant ministerial posts.
The committee last week rejected five ministerial appointees.
They are former Kampala mayor Nasser Sebaggala, who was rejected because of lack of qualifications and his criminal record in the US where he was imprisoned 10 years ago.
Others are James Kakooza and Muyanja Mbabali whose academic papers were queried.
Also, the fate of Lt. Saleh Kamba, nominated as state minister for Bunyoro Affairs, was referred to a legal team.
Flavia Munaaba (environment), who had earlier been deferred by the committee, was on Thursday evening cleared after producing documents from the Judicial Service Commission explaining circumstances under which she left office.
On Saturday, Munaaba said she had been invited for the swearing-in and was eager to take on the job.
The committee also suggested that Henry Muganwa Kajura, 77, surrenders the public service ministry, but remains the second deputy Premier.
However, Kakooza said he had received his invitation to the swearing-in, while Kamba had not yet. Sebaggala and Mbabaali could not be reached for comment.
The fate of East Moyo MP Moses Ali who was appointed as third Deputy Premier and deputy leader of government business also hangs in balance since the post is not provided for in the Constitution.