A total of Seventeen (17) newly appointed ministers on Monday, June 21, 2021, missed the cabinet swearing in at Kololo Independence Grounds after some of them tested positive for Covid-19.
Others were in isolation because they are contacts of COVID-19 victims and are in self-isolation, others are undergoing treatment while others were absence after having lost relatives among other reasons.
Top on the list is First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga and Minister of East African Affairs, Hilary Onek, the Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness & Refugees, Maria Goretti Kitutu the Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Judith Nabakooba the Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development and Cheptoris Mangusho, the Minister of Water and Environment.
Also, absent at Kololo was the Minister for Presidency, Babirye Milly Babalanda, and Attorney-General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka because of their recent contact with COVID-19 victims.
The Minister of Public Service, Muruli Mukasa and Foreign Affairs State Minister in Charge of Regional Affairs, John Mulimba also did not swear in because even during the vetting by Parliament they were not approved.
Dr. Monica Musenero the Minister Office of the President Serviced in charge of Science, Technology and Innovation who lost a mother to cancer on Monday morning also did not appear at the event. Yet the Minister of State-designate for Luwero Triangle-Rwenzori Region) Alice Kaboyo whose appointment was rejected by the Appointments Committee because of her previous corruption scandal and subsequent conviction was also not sworn in.
The others who missed swearing-in are Fred Kyakulaga, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (Agriculture), Huda Olero, the Minister of State for Defense and Veteran Affairs (Veteran Affairs), Evelyn Anite, the Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (Privatization and Investment), Henry Okello Oryem, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (International Affairs), Margaret Muhanga, the Minister of State for Health (Primary Health Care) and Victoria Rusoke, the Minister of State for Local Government.
To access the swearing-in venue, one was required to present a COVID-19 negative result. The event attended by President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni saw the swearing-in of Vice President Maj. Rtd. Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business Robinah Nabbanja, Second Deputy Prime Minister Moses Ali and Third Deputy Prime Minister, Lukia Nakadama.
The function follows last week’s vetting process by the Appointments Committee of parliament chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Anita Among. Deborah Katuramu, the Deputy Head of Public Service and Deputy Secretary to Cabinet, said that the swearing-in of Ministers is very important for Cabinet to formally start government business.
She said that the appointment of new Ministers is a clear indication of the confidence that the President has in the appointees in fulfilling his aspirations in the transformation of Uganda into a middle income country.
Others sworn in are the Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataha Museveni, Maj. Gen. Rtd Jim Muhwezi, the Minister of Security, Hajati Misa Kabanda, the Minister for Kampala Capital and Metropolitan Affairs, Justine Kasule Lumumba, the Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister in charge of General Duties, Thomas Tayebwa and the Government Chief Whip, Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal and Fisheries among others.
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