CENTENARY PARK; GONE FOREVER?

The Images here, are a representation of some of the facilities at the Centenary park gardens before its demolition by Kampala Capital City Authority on Thursday. my views coming shortly.

Appointments commitee needs support, not presidential directives

Today, i woke up to a rather disturbing headline in Weekly Observer; "Museveni attacks Appointments MPS," i didn't have to ask why, having read the latest developments in the media regarding the rejection of two ministerial nominees, Idah Nantaba and Tarsis Kabwegyere for various reasons, But the question that came to my mind was "whats wrong with the President?"

 I Personally believe that Tarsis Kabwegyere's appointment was a misplaced Joke. How on earth would this ministry be headed by a very insensitive character like Kabwegyere? one who once advised community's in Teso to survive on termites when their crops were destroyed by floods? The one who once said the people of Teso region should dry mangoes in preparation for famine? or the one who castigated them for being drunkards who like begging rather than digging.

OK! i like bold people who speak their mind, but i simply didn't find kabwegyere's remarks funny, considering that people were already dying from hunger and his docket, the ministry of disaster preparedness did not have much to do, to save the situation. No wonder during his time in this department, members found it easier to refer to it as the ministry of Disaster.

The ministry of Gender where president Museveni wants him posted is a department that deals with all sorts of disadvantaged/special interest groups; the elderly, the disabled, the unemployed, youth and women. Does kabwegyere have the moral authority to preside over such a sensitive department? What will he tell the women when they come running to him with "women's issues?" remembering his stance on the domestic relations bill doesn't make the situation better either. What will he tell the disabled and all these groups that need special attention in their cause.

Now when i read that president Museveni has not taken lightly the refusal to heed to his request to approve his ministerial appointments, i get disturbed. if they all had to be approved, why then do we have the appointments committee?

I think this committee has done a good job under the leadership of The Speaker Rebecca Kadaga by scrutinizing nominees both on their abilities, academic excellence and personality. otherwise, by now we would be having Al Hajji Nasser Ntege sebbagala as a cabinet minister, so would be James Kakooza (i wonder how he made it in cabinet previously), we would also be having Muyanja Mbabaali in cabinet.

I think the committee should have a muscle to perform its duties without undue pressure from the presidency. in countries where systems are working,such a committee works independently, so these threatening phone calls wouldn't even arise.

I wouldn't love to see the appointments committee turned into a rubber stamp of sorts and i think it is possible to have an independent appointments committee, one which will help us address imbalances and all sorts of inconsistencies by the appointing authority.  

This is why Sylvia thinks "it is possible."