I will be loyal to the nation â€" Ssekandi

May 25, 2011

VICE-President designate Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi has promised to be loyal to the ruling party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the country.

By Vision Reporters

VICE-President designate Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi has promised to be loyal to the ruling party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the country.

The former two-time Speaker of Parliament vowed to work with the rest of the team that the President will appoint to Cabinet to implement the NRM manifesto.

In an interview after President Yoweri named him Vice-President (VP) yesterday, Ssekandi said he welcomed the appointment and was touched by the confidence of the appointing authority.

Ssekandi observed that as the Bukoto Central Member of Parliament, he had identified the challenges and demands of the citizens that the new Government should address.

“Ugandans want their standard of living improved. They also want to have money so that they can pay school fees for their children, have better health facilities and infrastructure,” Ssekandi pointed out.

President Museveni, while addressing the NRM caucus at State House Entebbe, also named former security minister John Patrick Amama Mbabazi as Prime Minister. The elevation of Mbabazi, the NRM secretary general, has taken many in the NRM and political observers by surprise.

Museveni summoned the NRM caucus meeting at Entebbe to brief MPs about the appointments before they are debated in Parliament. He, however, did not divulge who other ministers in the new Cabinet will be.

President Museveni praised Ssekandi, saying he is a clean, trustworthy and consistent person.

He described Mbabazi as one of the most ideologically reliable cadres of the NRM, disciplined with vast legal knowledge and loyal.

Parliament is mandated to debate and vote on the appointment of the VP and Premier. But other ministerial appointments are vetted by the appointments committee sitting in camera.

The committee rarely rejects the President’s nominees, although this has happened a few times. All nominees for appointment as Vice-President have in the past sailed through the House smoothly.

“The President said he would not give other names until Parliament verifies the number of ministers that the President can appoint,” the source said.

The Constitution provides for a maximum of 42 Cabinet ministers and ministers of state. But the Constitution gives Parliament powers to allow the President to appoint more than the stipulated 42. The last Cabinet comprised of 26 cabinet ministers and 44 state ministers.

Parliament is expected to sit today to consider the motion to approve the Vice-President and the Prime Minister and to vary the number of ministers.

The new portfolios will include the Attorney General and ministers for Teso, Bunyoro and oil. Kampala also has a minister, following the passage of the Kampala Capital City Act.

The outgoing VP, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, has served for the last eight years but has been involved in some controversies that made his exit inevitable.

NRM insiders, however, argue that Museveni also sought to unite his party, which over the past few years has been split among factions linked to individuals, including the former VP and Mbabazi.

Sources at the caucus said Bukenya did not attend the meeting during which Mbabazi reportedly agreed to relinquish the position of Secretary General as he now becomes the Leader of Government business.

Mbabazi and Bukenya contested for the post of NRM secretary general.

It is not clear whether Bukenya, the Busiro North MP, will retire or move to the back bench.

Meanwhile, the outgoing Prime Minister, Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, has said he is happy to have served in the Government and described his successor as a distinguished and knowledgeable lawyer.

“The new Prime Minister is also the secretary general of the National Resistance Movement party. Therefore, he has handled practical politics and has experience. I wish him success,” he said.

Nsibambi added that he was grateful to President Museveni for having appointed him to serve as Prime Minister, a position he held for 12 years.

He also praised Ssekandi, saying he is mature, versatile and professional.

Compiled by Milton Olupot, Henry Mukasa and Raymond Baguma

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