President Yoweri Museveni has dropped the appointment of Joy Ruth Achieng - one of the opposition ministerial appointees.
The former Kole Woman MP and a member of the opposition political party Uganda People's Congress (UPC) had been appointed as state minister for fisheries.
According to sources, Ruth Nankabirwa, the government chief whip wrote to the parliament's appointments committee, tasked with vetting of ministerial appointees, withdrawing the appointment of Achieng.
"The Speaker read to us a letter from Nankabirwa, stating that the President had withdrawn Achieng's appointment. She did not give reasons for the action," one of the MPs on the committee said.
Achieng did not appear before the committee as scheduled on Thursday afternoon. We have learnt that the decision to drop Achieng stemmed from a heated meeting between Museveni and MPs from Lango sub-region at State House, Entebbe on Thursday.
Some of the MPs who attended the meeting confirm that the Lango MPs expressed bitterness over the appointment of Achieng and Lands Minister, Betty Amongi to cabinet.
"The legislators wondered why the president opted to reward the opposition yet they canvassed for support during the 2016 elections. They felt left out in favour of the opposition," one of the MPs who attended the meeting revealed.
The MPs are reported to have given an ultimatum to Museveni to drop either Amongi or Achieng or lose their support. Following consultations, it was reportedly agreed that Amongi, also Oyam South MP, is retained and Achieng dropped.
Amongi was the last minister to be vetted by the committee. She said even though in opposition, her role, just like opposition members in local government, is to implement programmes that benefit the people.
Meanwhile, two ministerial appointees were not vetted. They include 1st deputy prime minister-designate Gen Moses Ali, who is reportedly unwell. State Minister in charge of International Affairs, Henry Okello Oryem is reportedly out of the country on official duties.
The committee is expected to set a new date to vet them. In total, 77 ministers were vetted.
Source