MUSEVENI TO SWEAR IN MINISTERS TODAY
Posted on
Oct 30, 2012
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KAMPALA
President Museveni is today expected to preside over the swearing-in of the new ministers at State House Entebbe, three months after they were appointed.
Mr Museveni is also expected to officially transfer Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere from the Gender Ministry, where he had originally proposed for deployment to the Prime Minister’s office to handle General Duties.
Prof Kabwegyere’s transfer is as a result of the Parliament Appointments Committee recommendation to Mr Museveni that the octogenarian
has gender biases and that he de-campaigned the Domestic Relations
Bill, which position drew the wrath of women’s rights activists. This
newspaper could not verify if the women activists are comfortable with
Mr John Nasasira heading the Gender Ministry.
The function will be held in camera, according to State House sources, who did not reveal why the ceremony would be held behind closed doors.
Mr Museveni’s spokesman Tamale Mirundi said
had the press requested, the ceremony could have been open, “but because
of the controversies surrounding it ... [the function will not be open to the media] ”
Mr Mirundi later informed us that State House had decided to have
the ceremony exclusively covered by the PPU (Presidential Press Unit).
“There are two functions at State House. The swearing-in and also the
President handing over a bus to athletes. The first is
exclusively for PPU and the latter is for general coverage. So, you can
come and cover the handing over of the bus,” Mr Mirundi said.
The norm
The head of the Media Centre, Mr Fred Opolot, also claimed that all such ceremonies - emanating from a reshuffled Cabinet - had always been held in camera. The ceremony will be held under the provisions of Article 115 of the Constitution that states that, “a minister shall, before assuming the duties of office, take and subscribe to the oath of allegiance and the oath of minister specified in the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution.”
The head of the Media Centre, Mr Fred Opolot, also claimed that all such ceremonies - emanating from a reshuffled Cabinet - had always been held in camera. The ceremony will be held under the provisions of Article 115 of the Constitution that states that, “a minister shall, before assuming the duties of office, take and subscribe to the oath of allegiance and the oath of minister specified in the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution.”
The reshuffle was announced in mid-August,
seeing a return of the three indicted ministers; Mr Sam Kutesa, Mr
Nasasira and Mr Mwesigwa Rukutana, who in October 2011 had “stepped aside” to face prosecution on corruption-related charges, resulting from the 2007 Commonwealth summit.
The reshuffle also saw Mr Museveni retaining
68 of the ‘old guard’, while 11 fresh entries mostly in junior
positions, making up a Cabinet lineup of 79 ministers. However, the
Constitution Article 113 (2) stipulates that the total number of Cabinet Ministers shall not exceed 21 except with the approval of Parliament. The function is expected to take place at 10am ahead of the return from recess of Parliament.
Those who will take oath include; Mr Frank Tumwebaze (Presidency), Mr Richard Todwong (Without Portfolio), Ms Idah Erios Nantaba (State, Lands), and Mr Ernest Kiiza (State, Bunyoro).
Others are Ms Rosemary Najjemba (State for Urban
Development), Ms Sarah Kataike Ndoboli (State for Health General
Duties), Mr Gabriel Ajedra Aridru (State Investments) and Mr Shem
Bageine (State for East African Affairs).
