Museveni Rejects MPs’ Bid for Role in Top Civil Servant Appointments

KYKAWANZI, Uganda – President Yoweri Museveni has rejected a proposal from ruling party lawmakers seeking a formal role in recommending appointees for positions including permanent secretaries, resident district commissioners and chief administrative officers.

The proposal, part of draft resolutions from the National Resistance Movement party retreat, was read by party Secretary General Richard Todwong on Tuesday. Before members could adopt the resolutions, Museveni dismissed the measure.

“If you bring in political interference that we recommend, do this, do that, is that part of the problem now?” Museveni, also the NRM national chairperson, asked the gathering.

He admitted he has been part of the problem by appointing failed politicians to key government commissions.

“We normally recycle politicians who have not succeeded here and put them on the commissions,” Museveni said.

Todwong had told legislators, including some independents and opposition members, that they needed input into appointments because they help implement the NRM manifesto.

“We resolve to have an input in the appointment of key government accounting officers including RDCs, CAOs and permanent secretaries, given their critical role in service delivery and implementation of the NRM manifesto,” Todwong said.

The proposal was struck from the final resolutions after Museveni, in power since 1986, rejected it.

He said Lucy Nakyobe, head of public service and secretary to the cabinet, has long opposed political interference and that politicians must not be involved now.

In a Nov. 5, 2024, letter to Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, Nakyobe detailed Museveni’s frustrations over appointing failed politicians to statutory boards. The president’s 36th Cabinet meeting on Oct. 28, 2024, raised concerns about such appointments based on favoritism, according to the letter.

Museveni cited examples of the Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority and the Tax Appeals Tribunal, where political board members caused confusion by treating part-time assignments as full-time jobs and engaging in politicking.

At the time, URBRA’s website showed three of eight board directors were former members of Parliament, and two of TAT’s nine board members were ex-lawmakers.

Other examples include retired Justice Steven Kavuma, former defense minister and deputy chief justice, who chairs the Civil Aviation Authority board. Former Uganda Airlines board head Perez Ahabwe, a former junior local government minister, was fired in April 2021 amid corruption allegations he denied.

The National Water and Sewerage Corp. board, chaired by former Electoral Commission chief Badru Kiggundu, includes former East African Legislative Assembly Speaker Dan Kidega and former Kanungu District Chairperson Canon Josephine Kasya.

Former junior finance minister Fred Jachan Omach was appointed in January 2021 to head the Uganda National Roads Authority board, since rationalized. Former Mbarara Municipality MP Medard Bitekyerezo chairs the National Drug Authority board. The National Medical Stores board includes Bitekyerezo, former Health Minister Christine Ondoa and former Oyam Woman MP Beatrice Amongi Lagada.

The National Planning Authority board, chaired by Prof. Pamela Mbabazi, includes former Buliisa County MP Stephen Mukitale and former NRM Women’s League chairperson Lydia Wanyoto.

“I am guilty because I have been putting my politicians on the commission, Public Service Commission, Education Service Commission,” Museveni told lawmakers.

Despite being denied a role in recommending appointees, NRM legislators unanimously agreed to support recruitment of permanent secretaries, under secretaries and other key officials based on merit, along with their constrained reshuffling to improve service delivery.