How PM Nabbanja Reacted After Learning Museveni Made an Unexpected Replacement at Her Office

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has spoken out on the recent changes made by President Museveni at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).

Speaking exclusively to Mulengera News on Saturday evening, the Kakumiro Woman MP said she was not yet aware of the development that saw Dunstan Balaba removed as Permanent Secretary (PS) at OPM and replaced by Alex Kakooza, who has been serving as Principal Private Secretary to the Vice President since July 2021.

“I have been upcountry attending to constituency work, and the network isn’t very good this side,” Nabbanja explained. “I found a missed call from the PS, Mr. Dunstan Balaba. You never know, maybe he was calling to break that news to me. I don’t know for sure, but we shall see and usher in the new person if that’s what has happened.”

Nabbanja made it clear that she or her staff at OPM have no objections to whoever the President appoints to the PS role or any other position. She emphasized that her role is to work with whoever is chosen by the President.

“He [Museveni] is my boss, and the power to appoint and make people PSs lies with him. Whoever he chooses and makes PS is the one we work with. It’s about the service delivery business of the people, and as Prime Minister, I am ready, willing, and prepared to work with whoever my boss the President appoints,” she said. “Alex Kakooza or whoever the President appoints will be warmly received, supported, and facilitated to do his work.”

Nabbanja dismissed claims that there would be resentment or resistance to the changes. “Bringing in a serious PS like Kakooza, once the same has been proclaimed by the President through the established channels, is something we all welcome,” she added.