Yasiin Mugerwa and Mercy Nalugo
26 May 2011
Parliament yesterday vetted and approved former Speaker Edward Ssekandi as new Vice President and former Security Minister Amama Mbabazi as Prime Minister in a stormy debate that ended with the approval of eight new ministries.
While the opposition side took issue with Mr Ssekandi’s predisposition as a former Speaker of Parliament, they later joined the ruling NRM party majority to approve his appointment. Out of 246 MPs in the House, 245 voted for him, one member declined to vote and none opposed Ssekandi’s nomination.
“The new VP has pending issues in courts of law ranging from rigging elections to other related offences,” Kawempe North MP Latif Ssebaggala said. But defending the new VP, the former Relief Minister Musa Ecweru asked the Speaker to restrain Mr Ssebaggala from commenting on matters which are in court.
Mr Ssekandi is facing a legal battle for Bukoto Central seat, Masaka District, where his rival is challenging his re-election. But Ssekandi said: “I will use whatever asset I have to ensure that the country is well governed. Those who took me to court are the ones with the problem, for me I have clean hands.”
At exactly 12:25pm, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga declared Ssekandi the new Vice President after exceeding the legal requirement of simple majority (50+1) as spelt out in Article 108 (2) of the 1995 Constitution. A motion, seeking to endorse Mr Ssekandi was moved by Mike Mukula (Soroti Municipality) and seconded by Alebtong Woman MP Rebecca Otengo.
Running through Ssekandi’s CV, which was read before the House, Mr Mukula said: “The new Vice President is a man who has stood the test of time, a man of integrity, a man of ability and above all a man who humbles before God.”
Asking the House to approve Ssekandi, Ms Otengo said: “Ssekandi served in Judiciary, Parliament and now Executive- he is a man who has served in all the three arms of government.”
Mr Ssekandi will replace Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, who was informed on Monday that he would be dropped. Mr Mbabazi, also the NRM secretary general, will replace Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, who is retiring from the Cabinet. Mr Mbabazi will step down from the NRM position.
However Mbabazi’s approval was most dramatic after the opposition and some NRM MPs questioned his moral standing in reference to his involvement in Chogm 2007 and Temangalo land scandals. Lubaga South MP Ken Lukyamuzi, Muhammad Nsereko (Kampala Central), Latif Ssebaggala (Kawempe North), Joy Atim Ongom (Lira), Ronah Ninsiima (Kabale) among others accused the new prime minister of being unfit for the job.
When the Speaker put the matter to the vote, out of 244 MPs present, 225 voted him, 18 against, 2 abstained and none from the opposition side voted him.
New ministries
Meanwhile, the House approved President Museveni’s request to Parliament to increase the number of Cabinet Ministers from 21 to 29 and State Ministers from 41 to 47. However the opposition criticised the move as uncalled for.
A resolution was moved by Mr Mbabazi and seconded by Kajara MP Stephen Tashobya. The President wrote to Ms Kadaga on May 23, saying more ministries and ministers would ensure better service delivery.
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