Uganda's President names new cabinet, gives wife key ministry

June 7, 2016 6:03 AM

On May 13, Besigye was charged with treason after a mock ceremony in which his party said he had been sworn in as Uganda's president. He has been in detention since.

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni (R), with his wife Jane in Kampala, file.

Uganda's veteran leader Yoweri Museveni named a new cabinet on Monday that retained his prime minister and ministers in the key energy and finance jobs while giving the education portfolio to his wife.

Museveni, 71, who has ruled the east African country for 30 years, was declared winner of the February presidential election with 60 percent of the vote and sworn in for a new term on May 12. Most of his main ministers were reappointed.

His main rival Kizza Besigye rejected the results and called the election a sham, citing widespread rigging, intimidation by security forces and use of state funds to bribe voters.

Tensions have been simmering since the February poll, with Besigye kept under virtual house arrest for several weeks while security clashed with his supporters on multiple occasions.

In the new line-up, Museveni reappointed his Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi and Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda and maintained Matia Kasaija and Irene Muloni as the important finance and energy ministers respectively.

Museveni's wife Janet Museveni was named as the new minister of education and sports, usually a coveted portfolio in Uganda because it takes one of the largest chunks of the annual budget.

Andrew Karamagi, a human rights lawyer and political commentator told Reuters the new cabinet's selection criteria appeared based on a need to balance varied ethnic and religious interests to maintain a broad base of political support.

Many of the new faces were in smaller ministries or as ministers of state.

"It's less about performance, about delivery, about citizens," Karamagi said.

Government spokesman Shaban Bantariza rejected the accusation, saying Museveni was certain about his appointees' merits.