Nantaba Sworn In

Kayunga District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon Ida Nantaba was sworn in today as the new Minister of State for Lands at State House, Entebbe.

During the ceremony other Ministers who were sworn in include Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere ( General Duties OPM), Hon. Frank Tumwebaze (Presidency and Kampala Capital City Authority), Richard Todwong (Minister without Portfolio in-charge of Political Mobilization) and Hon. Kasule Lumumba who was elevated to chief whip. Others included Shem Bagaine (Minister of State for East African Affairs), Ernest Kiiza (Minister of State for Bunyoro Affairs), Ajedra Gabriel Gadison Aridru (Minister of State for Investment) Sarah Kataike Ndoboli (Minister of State for Health), and Rosemary Najjemba (Minister of State for Urban Development).

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, in his speech said that this term of government and the NRM must be that of action and not endless talk and depending on civil servants. He added that he expects the new ministers to be leaders of a new type who interact with civil servants to be knowledgeable to avoid being misled.

He warned ministers against unnecessary foreign travel, saying excessive traveling is a lack of seriousness, likening it to a local proverb which says, a woman who travels constantly never fills her milk calabash.

Background

Hon. Nantaba was last week controversially approved after over a month of haggling between Parliament’s Appointments Committee that vets ministerial nominees, and the appointing authority.

The Kayunga woman MP had been rejected on grounds of her moral conduct by the committee chaired by the Speaker of Parliament Hon. Rebecca Kadaga. However in a turn of events, Hon. Nantaba was last week approved in in the absence of Hon. Kadaga who was out of the country attending an IPU summit in Canada.

To show her appreciation, Hon Nantaba has organized a bash in Ndeeba-Kayunga District, 110km from the capital Kampala to celebrate her appointment. President Yoweri Museveni is expected to officiate leaving many questioning the legislator’s relationship with the President although she has been quoted in the media denying any intimate connection.