Following the release of the new cabinet list last evening, a cocktail of both celebrations and shock engulfed the general public. A number of new faces were unveiled while some familiar faces were conspicuously snubbed.
Below are some of the notable faces that will not be participating in Cabinet sittings for the foreseeable future at least.
1. Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi
For the last ten years, Ssekandi has been Museveni’s Deputy. He has variously been accused of being too silent to the extent that people would at times forget is the Vice President. He lost his Busiro Central seat to Democratic Party’s Richard Ssebamala in this year’s general elections.
Ssekandi is replaced with Former Education State Minister Jessica Alupo.
2. Esther Mbayo
Esther Mbayo has been the Minister for Presidency in the previous cabinet. She has however dropped from cabinet despite narrowly winning back her seat in Luuka. She is replaced by her compatriot- Mariam Doka Babalanda, formerly at the NRM National Chairman’s office Kyambogo.
2. Dr Ruhakana Rugunda
Forming part of Museveni’s cabinets since 1986, “Ndugu” Rugunda as he is commonly called will not be sitting in Cabinet meetings for the first time in over three decades. As former Prime Minister, Rugunda will be replaced by HE Robina Nabbanja. He has been appointed a Special Presidential Envoy in the office of the President.
3. Amelia Kyambadde
Formerly Minister for Trade and Industry,Kyambadde did it manage to make it to the next cabinet having lost her Mawokota South MP seat to new comer Hillary Kiyaga aka Hilderman. She was however appointed Senior Presidential Advisor on Industries.
4 . Betty Olive Namisango Kamya
The former Forum For Democratic Change – FDC strong woman was just appointed to Museveni’s cabinet in the 2016- 2021 term. She served as Minister for Kampala and Lands respectively. In the last general elections, she unsuccessfully tried to regain her MP seat in Rubaga North only to lose to NUP’s Abubaker Kawalya. In the new Cabinet, Kamya didn’t make it but rather was appointed Senior Presidential Advisor – Lands.
5. PROF. Ephraim Kamuntu:
The outgoing Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has been one of Museveni’s longest serving Cabinet Members since 1986. It was earlier reported that he asked Museveni to relieve him of his duties after serving for long enough. He will be Senior Presidential Advisor on Economic and Manifesto Implementation.
6. Sarah Kanyike
At the time of her joining Museveni’s government late 2019, Kanyike was Kampala Capital City Deputy Mayor. She was preyed away to occupy the then vacant Ministry of State for the elderly. She however didn’t make it back but instead appointed Special Advisor on Kampala.
7. Gen. Elly Tumwine
General Tumwine is another familiar face that was axed from Cabinet. Formerly Minister in Charge of Security, Tumwine lost is seat as a UPDF representative, a factor that’s believed to have convinced General Museveni that it could be time for his iconic general to get a softer deployment. He was this appointment Senior Presidential Advisor on Security.
8. Sam Kabamba Kutesa
The former Mawogola North MP announced his retirement from active politics in 2019. In January 2020, he introduced her daughter Shatsi Musherure Kutesa to the Mawogola North voters as his preferred replacement. Shatsi won as is the new area MP in the eleventh parliament.
Since 2005, Kutesa has been the Minister for Foreign Affairs, making him the longest cabinet member to occupy a particular docket consistently.
Just like Kamuntu, Kutesa reportedly asked Museveni to permit him retirement from public affairs.
9. Florence Nakiwala Kiyinji
The former Member of the Democratic Party joined the ruling side in a surprise appointment. She has been State Minister for Youths children where she has largely done nothing save for her occasional appearances in Children and minor marriage squabbles between couples. The new cabinet announcement has seen her dropped completely with no consolation appointment.
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