For more than two weeks, there has been talk of an impending cabinet reshuffle. Of course no one other than the president can tell for sure whether the reshuffle will happen.
Yet if it does happen, we believe there are at least 10 individuals that need to be dropped or retired. Out list is purely subjective and it is not exhaustive.
Our analysis is based on several factors but the key consideration is performance. For others, their failing health has made them unable to execute their duties while some are too old to carry on.
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Moses Ali (second deputy prime minister)
Surely, surely Gen Moses Ali should be retired. Every single day Museveni keeps Gen Ali in cabinet appears to be like a punishment. The second deputy prime minister is visibly ill and what he needs more than being chauffeured from one hectic meeting to another is a good rest and constant medical attention.
Gorreti kitutu (Karamoja)
Maria Gorreti Kitutu, the minister for Karamoja Affairs needs no introduction to the follower of Uganda’s politics. She made headlines last year after she was mentioned as one of the chief architects of the Karamoja Mabaati saga. She is currently battling the charges in court so we don’t want to prejudice anything. But in our view her reputation has been gravely damaged. If the president wants to be seen to be doing something about officials who mismanage public affairs, sacking Kitutu is a good starting point.
Hillary Onek (Disaster Preparedness)
Hillary Onek was vibrant in his early days in cabinet but we have been told that he has gone cold. He last made headlines when he exchanged with Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja over attending meetings. For Onek, the exchange had also the signs of bitterness written allover it. Being a minister for Disaster Preparedness in the OPM, some people thought at that time that Onek should avoid a looming disaster by resigning. But since resignation does not exist in our vocabulary, may be the president can use his pen and strike out his name from cabinet.
Joyce Ssebugwawo- Minister of state for ICT
Her appointment to cabinet came as a shock given that she had been a strong pillar of the Forum for Democratic Change. Yet what was more surprising is that she was appointed to a docket (ICT) where she is clearly out of depth. The ministry deserves a dynamic, and a technologically savvy individual, not one who would more more c0mfortable with a type writer. Given that she was appointed for political reasons, we know this is a long ask but if the president wants to rejig his cabinet, Ssebugwawo should be sent home into retirement.
Magode Ikuya (minister of state East African Affairs)
The first sign of trouble for NRM historical Magode Ikuya, was when he was carried into the Appointments Committee for vetting. The photo is imprinted on many of us. Since then, the state minister for East African Affairs has been largely absent on from the public scene. We have been told that he is not in good health and needs to rest. And we back the president not to return him even if we know his appointment was a reward for having stayed loyal to the system even when he was on the fringes. He can stick to writing opinions in newspapers.
Okello Oryem (State foreign affairs)
Okello Oryem is an amiable fellow but we think he has done his shift and needs to retire. The minister recently caused a stir when he said people dying of hunger are idiots. Museveni was confessed that the reason he keeps Oryem in cabinet is because he helped babysit a toddler Muhoozi Kainerugaba when they were in exile in Tanzania in the 1970s. Now that Muhoozi is making 50 years and could ( a big could) one day become president, we think it is time for Oryem to step back.
Jim Muhwezi (security)
Gen Jim Muhwezi has been there, done that. A former policeman who escaped to the bush to join Museveni’s bush war, Muhwezi has occupied several ministerial positions, has been censured by Parliament and locked up over the GAVI scandal. Today he heads a sensitive docket which some say has created “insecurity” especially to those opposed to the government. We don’t know whether it is because of age but Jim, as he is fondly known, has lost his spark. He should be allowed to rejuvenate, outside cabinet.
Tom Butime (minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities)
Like Gen Muhwezi, Col Tom Butime needs to be let go. First he occupies one of the most critical dockets (Tourism) that requires someone with relentless energy, which he does not have. We don’t know whether he can tell the difference between a chimpanzee and a mountain gorilla but even if he can, the good old colonel has played his part and history will be fair to him. He should be playing with his grandchildren.
Jenipher Namuyangu (minister of state for Bunyoro Affairs)
Sometimes we think there is something Jenipher Namuyangu has on President Museveni because she will always find her way into his cabinet. She has been in cabinet since 2003 serving as state minister for Industry, Environment, Water, Local Government and now Bunyoro Affairs. It is interesting that she has never been full cabinet minister. Despite all this history, she remains one of the “unknown” ministers. She is invisible in Parliament and we bet if she moved on Kampala Road, nine out of ten people would not identify her. She needs to go home.
Peter Lokeris (minister of state for Energy and Mineral Development)
It seems Peter Lokeris was made to be minister of state for Minerals because that is virtually the only docket he has occupied in Museveni’s cabinet since he joined it in the late 1990s. His impact in the ministry remains to be seen. Even if the president appoints him to appease the Karamajong, surely there must be someone from that area who can ably take his place. Lokeris should be retired from cabinet.
