Museveni gives wife Education ministry post

Uganda's First Lady Janet Museveni (left), Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok second (second from left), Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago and other guests during the 2nd Turkana County Tourism and Cultural Festival at Ekalees Cultural Centre in Lodwar, Turkana on August 27, 2015. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Janet Museveni gets important office as Vice-President Edwrad Ssekandi and Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda are retained.

KAMPALA, Tuesday

After months of waiting, President Yoweri Museveni yesterday completed his post-election reshuffle of the Cabinet, making his wife Janet Minister of Education and Sports two weeks after promoting his son Muhoozi Kainerugaba from brigadier to major general in the Uganda People's Defence Force.

The ministry gets a large chunk of the budget and is an important one. In Uganda’s current budget, the education sector will get USh2 trillion, Security and Defence will get USh1.5 trillion while health will be allocated USh1.2 trillion.

Another appointment in the 80-member cabinet that raised eyebrows was that of Simon Lokodo, well known for opposing homosexuality, as Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity.

Mr Museveni reappointed Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi as vice president and Ruhakana Rugunda as prime minister. He retained Matia Kasaija as Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, and Irene Muloni as Minister for Energy and Mineral Development.

Former lawmaker Ken Lukyamuzi, who served with Janet Museveni in the last Parliament, said the first lady's elevation “was expected”.

“Museveni is pushing (a) family agenda in Ugandan politics. Recently he promoted his son to the rank of major general and now (his) wife is reappointed minister,” he said today.

There are at least 38 new entrants in the Cabinet, including some who are Members of Parliament (MPs) and others such as Lieutenant General Henry Tumukunde (Security), Dr Ruth Jane Aceng (Health), Ntege Azuba (Works and Transport) and William Byaruhanga (Attorney General). Hajj Abdul Nadduli and others have been picked from outside Parliament. Mr Nadduli is expected to replace Abraham Byandala as Minister without Portfolio.

For all the appointees to be confirmed as ministers, they will have to be approved by the Parliamentary Appointment Committee, which Speaker Rebecca Kadaga chairs.
However, the vice president and prime minister are not approved by the House Vetting Committee but by the Committee of the Whole House.
Those who were picked outside Parliament will also be required to take oath of office to become ex-officio MPs.