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Museveni criticised over cabinet team

Opposition politicians, religious groups and civil society groups have come out against the cabinet line-up of President Yoweri Museveni, endorsed by parliament on 19 July, saying it was not representative of different groups in the country, despite Museveni’s promises, the ‘EastAfrican’ newspaper reported on Monday. Among 64 appointments as ministers and ministers of state were Sam Kuteesa and Brigadier Jim Muhwezi, who had been censured by the last parliament for alleged abuse of office, the report said. Muhwezi’s and Kuteesa’s nominations were approved by parliament after only a minor political scuffle, according to local media. Museveni also nominated Major Roland Kakooza Mutale - frequently criticised for his violent methods and reputedly one of the most feared and hated men in Ugandan politics - but he declined the post, saying he wanted to concentrate on his family and mobilisation for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), the ‘EastAfrican’ reported. The Muslim parliamentary caucus had complained that it was under-represented in cabinet, opposition politicians had said Museveni should have appointed a cabinet with at least some non-partisan members, women’s groups had complained that the president had failed to increase their representation in government office, and the Uganda Debt Network had criticised the expansion of cabinet posts, saying the administration needed reform, the report added. The new Ugandan parliament, elected on 26 June, in which 230 of 282 members were sympathetic to the president, was likely to play an important role in determining the succession procedure when Museveni stepped down in 2006, the Economist Intelligence Unit stated on Monday. “Museveni has made it abundantly clear that he has no intention of seeking another term, though there are plenty of cynics who believe that he may change his mind when the time comes,” it said. There was also some suspicion that Museveni’s son, UPDF Major Muhoozi Kainerugaba, was being groomed to take over from his father, it added. If Museveni did try to seek another term, the constitution would have to be amended, but that would not be a problem given his support within parliament, the report stated. Exceptional circumstances apart, the next president would probably be the person chosen as the 2006 presidential election candidate by the next conference of the NRM, it said. To date, the only individual to have expressed any interest in the job was the national political commissar, James Wapakhabulo, it added.

This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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