KISOZI – President Yoweri Museveni on Monday evening held private, one-on-one meetings with senior ministers in what State House insiders said is a sign of a looming Cabinet reshuffle, PML Daily has learnt.
Insiders have told this website that the President is on Tuesday set to retreat to his ranch in Kisozi, Gomba District to put final touches on the reshuffle that is expected to come up with surprise faces. The President, who has concluded his countrywide poverty eradication drive, wants to use the period in Kisozi to compare notes of what his intelligence gatherers have brought to him about people they deem fit to make his Cabinet.
The Monday evening meetings, which followed that of the weekly one held by Cabinet, are said to have been held between the President and Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Sekandi, on one hand, and Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, on the other.
It was not immediately clear what was discussed in the meeting but insiders intimated to this website that the duo is expected to be dropped in the reshuffle. We could not verify the claims.
This website reported over two months ago that Mr Museveni is ready to dispense with the services of Mr Sekandi as VP. Sources said the President has already indicated to Mr Sekandi that he intends to remove him from the position. Other sources told this website that Mr Sekandi indicated to the President that he already wants to retire.
The news about the looming reshuffle is said to have created a lot of anxiety in government, with many lobbyists said to be constantly seeking audience with the President to make case for their being appointed to Cabinet.
Nevertheless, sources have revealed that the President has made up his mind about his team following the countrywide tour where he is said to have been studying and gauging public opinion about how some NRM leaders such as ministers, LC5 chairmen and MPs are promoting the party agenda.
Mr. Museveni is said to have finally run the rule over the faces, who are expected to be young, vibrant people that will easily resonate with the people and defend the party agenda. This is also intended to counter the growing influence of Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine.
The President has reportedly zeroed on particular individuals to form a core of his Cabinet. They include Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi, the mover of the age limit motion, David Bahati, State Minister for Planning, Usuk County MP Peter Ogwang, Kiboga Woman MP and NRM chief whip Ruth Nankabirwa, Dokolo North MP Paul Amoru, Investment minister Evelyn Anite, Jinja Municipality West MP Moses Balyeku, Workers MP Arinaitwe Rwakajara and Mbarara Municipality MP Michael Tusiime.
These NRM leaders belong to an internal clique called ‘NRM warriors’ that is said to always vehemently defend the party agenda, something that has pleased the President. The other official believed to be the list is Kitgum Municipality MP Beatrice Anywar. Since crossing from FDC, Ms. Anywar has been openly flirting with NRM and is open to being appointed a minister.
Sources also told this website that the President is considering appointing some officials from Kasese to his Cabinet as part of plans to appease the district following the storming of the Rwenzururu palace in 2016 by security forces, leading to the death of over 100 Royal guards.
The Rwenzururu king together with his prime minister and his guards were later arrested and some of them are still in prison. The king, Charles Mumbere, has since been denied access to his kingdom by the court order. Since then, the President has embarked on trying to win over the kingdom by assigning his brother, Gen Caleb Akandwanaho, aka Salim Saleh, to camp in the area. Gen Saleh has since last year been in Kasese where he has established several agricultural projects and embarked on the revival of the Kilembe mines. Several roads have also been tarmacked since.
Sources revealed that Gen Saleh has already recommended that a senior FDC official hailing from the district should be appointed a Cabinet minister. We could not immediately identify who the official is.
