KAMPALA: President Museveni has appointed Democratic Party President Norbert Mao as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
This comes a day after he signed a cooperation agreement with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Among the new appointments is Hamson Obua, who is now the new Government Chief Whip. Obua has been the state minister for sports. The Government Chief Whip role was vacated by Thomas Tayebwa, who is now the Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
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However, Peter Ogwang, who has been the state minister for Economic Monitoring, has now been appointed state minister for Sports.
The Justice ministry docket has been vacant since the Cabinet appointments.
Mao’s appointment and Wednesday’s cooperative agreement formally affirm his hitherto secretive relationship with the ruling party.
On Wednesday, the National Resistance Movement-NRM party signed a working cooperation agreement with the Democratic Party-DP at State House, Entebbe.
President Museveni, also the National Chairman of NRM, signed on behalf of the party, while Nobert Mao signed on behalf of DP, which he leads as President General.
According to a press release by the Presidential Press Unit, NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong and Gerald Siranda of DP witnessed the signing.
Speaking after the signing, Museveni congratulated Mao on agreeing to work on steering DP to work with the NRM. He noted that this is something that should have happened at the top administrative level long ago.
“You know the history.” “I keep telling you that DP without Museveni is not a serious group because I was a very active member of DP,” Museveni said, and added that he was very happy with this milestone. He said that although DP has been supporting the opposition, they have been friendly and not destructive.
On his part, Mao appreciated the milestone on behalf of his party, saying that this is a continuous journey which started before some of them were born. He told Museveni that he now has the historical opportunity to gather party members scattered all over Uganda.
“You must look for them wherever they are, in all the political parties and in all the corners of Uganda,” Mao said. He said that DP is committed to adhering to what has been agreed upon.
“This is a living document. It has to continue growing and we have signed it in good faith, “Mao said, adding that documents signed show that they have managed to resolve the contradictions that they have been having.
He saluted the courage President Museveni exhibited all through and the risks he has taken, saying that he is the captain of the ship called Uganda and that it is important to pray for him as he leads.
It is not yet clear what is contained in the signed memorandum. DP, Uganda’s oldest political party joins Uganda People’s Congress to agree to work with the ruling NRM.
