Controversial moments of reshuffled ministers

Saturday's cabinet reshuffle saw President Yoweri Museveni introduce several fresh faces, drop a number of ministers, and reassign others to new ministries.

The public can only speculate about what triggered the changes but what is true is that many of those ministers who were shuffled dominated the headlines at some point during their tenure.

Here, we take a look at those incidents that grabbed the public's attention and sparked endless debates both among the public and in Parliament. 

Irene Muloni v Kadaga

The Speaker of Parliament said she had forwarded a list of officials who swindled money to President Yoweri Museveni something Irene Muloni disputed. File Photo

 When the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, told Parliament that she had forwarded a list of senior government officials who pocketed sh24b meant for the construction of the Isimba Dam bridge to President Yoweri Museveni, Irene Muloni, the ex-energy minister said: "We are not aware of sh24b meant for the Isimba Bridge that was allegedly eaten. If you have a case or any issue, the government has all institutions that can actually check out all those issues. Once you have information about something, you know where to report Energy and Mineral."

Muloni showing some of the ongoing construction of Kayunga-Kamuli Bridge dismissing the allegation that the funds had been stolen at Media Centre Kampala on November 19, 2019. Photo by Ramadhan

Muloni displaying a picture of Uhuru Falls while explaining the recent interest in constructing a hydropower dam at the site. Photo by Mary Kansiime

Muloni's response to Kadaga's whistleblowing irked MPs who forced her to apologise on the floor of Parliament.

So, could this public clash with Kadaga, have cost Muloni her job?

Betty Amongi v Justice Bamugemereire

In May last year, Justice Catherine Bamugemereire, who chaired the commission of inquiry into land matters, faced off with the minister of land, Betty Amongi.

Minister for lands Betty Amongi addresses the land inquiry commission chaired by Justice Catherine Bamugemereirwe (3rd right) during the launch of the commission in May 2017. File Photo

During the interrogation, Bamugemereire described the minister as a "young lady" for allegedly using her political clout to irregularly acquire prime property in Kampala through her company, Amobet Investments Ltd.

The minister also returned the fire, asking for respect from the land probe commission.

Does this explain her switch from land to Kampala? The jury is still out?

Rukutana v Bamugemereire

Mwesigwa Rukutana took exception to the line of questioning when he appeared before the land probe commission. Photo by Kennedy Oryema

When the Justice Catherine Bamugemererire summoned the ex-deputy Attorney General, Mwesigwa Rukutana to explain how he endorsed payment of sh24b by government to Dr Mohammed Kasasa for 12 acres of land in Mutungo, which is occupied by External Security Oganisation, Rukutana, the newly appointed state minister for labour, described the interrogation as "biased" saying he cannot take lightly the fact that someone can bark at him.

Rukutana also told Bamigemereire to go and hang, saying that she can report him to God.

Rukutana v Evelyne Anite

A man who is known for not mincing words, Rukutana has also been embroiled in a never-ending fight with Evelyne Anite, the state minister for investment over the revival of the Uganda Telecom Ltd.

Evelyn Anite and Mwesigwa Rukutana during a two-day retreat at Botanical Beach Hotel, in Entebbe in April before their highly publicised dispute. File Photo

The minister said she is fighting a cabal of mafias who are bent on failing UTL's functionality in order to sell the assets. Anite added that this cabal wants to kill her over UTL. On the other hand, Rukutana said he cannot murder Anite because he has better ways of using young girls.

Anite however had the last laugh. Photo by Juliet Kasirye

It took the intervention of President Yoweri Museveni, and in the end, Anite, who has retained her investment docket, has the last laugh as Rukutana is moved.

Otafiire v MPs over Njeru Govt land

Known as a controversial political figure, Otafiire's transfer to the ministry of East African Affairs has come against the backdrop of his fierce fight with MPs over allegations that he grabbed public land on which Njeru Stock Government Farm sits in Buikwe district.

Kahinda Otafiire explains himself over allegations that he acquired Nyeru farm land illegally during plenary on 30 October. Photo by Miriam Namutebi

When tasked to explain how he came into possession of the land, managed by the National Animal Genetic Resource Centre and Databank, Otafiire tasked the MPs to repent outside Parliament.

The Njeru stock farm has existed since 1949 and was established to serve as a training center, demonstration farm, breeding center, research center and also had the Njeru veterinary workshop. File Photo

The demand irked MPs, and Otafiire was given two days to table documentation showing ownership of the alleged land for scrutiny.

Nantaba v various

She made headlines when she called President Museveni on speakerphone while addressing a gathering in Kayunga. The President spoke to the people and as the call ended, she knelt down to thank the President. That is Idah Nantaba.

She joined politics in 2011 and came to Parliament as Kayunga Woman MP on the NRM ticket. A year later, Nantaba was appointed lands state minister after several hearings by the parliamentary appointments committee. As the lands state minister, Nantaba got involved in several wrangles with several government officials whom she accused of land grabbing.

Idah Nantaba was appointed the minister of state for ICT in June 2016. File Photo

She claimed some top army generals wanted to kill her. "My only hope is in God, not in President Museveni. This is because the President is surrounded by Mafias. Sometimes they cannot allow him to see the truth, they blind him with lies," she said.

Come 2016, Nantaba quit NRM over alleged vote-rigging during primaries and won a landslide victory for another term. She was appointed ICT state minister in the 2016 cabinet shuffle.

"Politics is two-way traffic. You are either there to serve or for personal gains. I'm there to serve and quitting is not part of Nantaba. It is not a characteristic of Nantaba. God holds my calendar. Where he wants me to stop is where I will stop," she said.

In March, Nantaba was involved in a suspected assassination attempt in which the suspected assassin, Ronald Ssebulime, was shot dead by Police. Since then, Nantaba has kept a low profile. Here are some of her memorable quotes.

A relative, Resty Nakiridde, holds a picture of Ronald Ssebulime. File Photo

"I don't want to meet Ssebulime's family. They are playing to the gallery while concealing the truth. All they are saying is that Ssebulime was a father. A father! You want to tell me Kagezi's killers didn't have families or children? What about Kaweesi's killers? Don't tell me killers don't have families," she said over the fallout from the tragic incident.