Is Wabudeya Still Minister for Kampala?

Sheila Naturinda

31 May 2011

Kampala — The list of the new Cabinet, released Friday night by President Museveni’s office excluded the Minister of Kampala City, leaving questions on the fate of current office holder Beatrice Wabudeya. Ms Wabudeya was also replaced by Kabakumba Masiko as Minister for the Presidency, a Cabinet position which would otherwise also oversee the city since its takeover from local government.

President Museveni in a March 17 communication appointed Dr Wabudeya Minister for Kampala at a time when she still held the Presidency portfolio. But in the latest Cabinet appointment, Ms Wabudeya’s fate remains unknown.

This, however, means that Dr Wabudeya, who lost the Presidency portfolio to another minister, also loses the city docket. Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah yesterday said his committee would only vet the named ministers.

“Maybe Kampala Ministry will also be created at a future date. All new ministers were announced as the list shows and that is all,” Mr Oulanyah said. President Museveni’s spokesman Tamale Mirundi said he too did not know the fate of Dr Wabudeya because Kampala is now under the Presidency.

City Authority blues

“What I know is that Kampala is under the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, which is now headed by Ms Masiko,” he said, adding that he needs to clarify Dr Wabudeya’s status.

Dr Wabudeya, Kampala City staff say, has been working as Minister at City Hall for the last two months and she was seen presiding over the swearing-in ceremony of the Lord Mayor, promising to work with him. “It has thrown us in suspense because we don’t know which minister will present our budgets before Cabinet. We are not sure whether she will return here working as our minister,” Mr Erias Lukwago, the Kampala Lord Mayor, said.

The uncertiainty could mean that Dr Wabudeya, one of the senior ministers, was left out in the cold like others who lost their constituencies.

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