Africa-Press – Uganda. Parliament. The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (LOP), Mr Mathias Mpuuga, on Friday released a list of the Shadow cabinet, five days after President Museveni’s new Cabinet took oath of office at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala.
The Shadow cabinet saw the National Unity Platform (NUP), which has the majority of the Opposition MPs that has to form the Shadow cabinet, take the lion’s share, with19 positions.
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, which has 32 MPs, got seven slots in the Shadow cabinet, while out of the 74 Independent MPs, two got positions.
The Democratic Party (nine MPs), Uganda People’s Congress (nine MPs) and the People’s Progressive Party (one MP), all got a single slot.
Jeema, also with a single MP, Mr Asuman Basalirwa (Bugiri Municipality) did not make it to the Shadow cabinet.The cabinet has 19 male and 11 female ministers.
A section of those named on the cabinet pledged to push for better democracy, stamp out corruption and advocate transparency in their tenure of office.
“I am grateful to the LoP for this appointment because it is a sign of confidence in my competence and ability to perform,” Mr Karim Masaba, a first-time MP for Industrial Division, Mbale City, who was given the tourism docket, said in a telephone interview.
He pledged to popularise domestic tourism, protect natural resources and wildfire species.“It is not a complicated ministry but it is very critical because it fetches volumes of revenue for our country, despite the meagre budgetary allocations dedicated to it by the government,” Mr Masaba said.
Mr Derrick Nyeko, the MP Makidye East, who will oversee the docket of Presidency and Security, said: “While I am grateful about this appointment. I believe this is the time for us to prove to Ugandans that we are capable of leading [the country] through the guidance we are going to offer as Shadow cabinet.”
The NUP party, led by former Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, continues to stamp its dominance on the political scene.
On Wednesday, lawmakers from the Buganda region voted for its member to lead the Buganda Parliamentary Caucus and ended the dominance of the ruling party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
List of the shadow cabinet
Wilfred Nuwagaba (Independent) – Attorney General, Shamim Malende (NUP) – Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Muwanga Kivumbi (NUP) – Finance Planning and Economic Devt, Nantongo Fortune Rose (DP) – Gender Labour and Social Dev’t, Atkins Katusabe (FDC) – Public Service, Derrick Nyeko (NUP)-Presidency and Security, Abed Bwanika (NUP)- Agriculture, Brendah Nabukenya (NUP)- Education, Jonathan Odur (UPC)- Defense and Veteran Affairs, Abdallah Kiwanuka (NUP)- Internal Affairs, Timothy Batuwa Lusala (FDC)- Health, Abubaker Kawalya (NUP)- KCCA, Muwada Nkunyingi (NUP)- Foreign Affairs, Ronald Balimwezo (NUP)- Lands and Housing, Asinasi Nyakato (FDC)- Energy and Minerals, Karem Masaba (Ind)- Tourism & Wildlife, Frank Kabuye (NUP)- Youth & Children Affairs, Francis Mwijukye (FDC)- Trade & Industry, Betty Naluyima (NUP)- Local Govts, Hanifa Nabukeera (NUP)- Human Rights, Christine Kaaya Nakimwera (NUP)- Water and Environment, Gorreth Namugga (NUP)- Science Innovations & Technology, Hilary Kiyaga (NUP)- Culture and Performing Arts, Anna Adeke Ebaju (FDC)- Co-operatives & Microfinance, Joyce Bagala (NUP)- Information & Anti-Corruption, Santa Okot (PPP)- Special Regions, Gilbert Olanya (FDC)- East African Community Affairs, Charles Tebandeke (NUP)- Animal Industry and Fisheries, Geoffrey Kayemba (NUP)- Sports.
