Uganda's parliament to vet cabinet soon

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is expected to submit a list of nominees for cabinet to the speaker of parliament over this weekend, local media reported on Sunday.

Edward Ssekandi, the speaker, chairs the parliamentary appointments committee, which vets presidential nominees to the executive. The committee was constituted during a meeting of the speaker and the chief whips of the six political parties represented in the parliament on Friday.

"We have constituted the appointments committee and are now waiting for the list. As soon as it comes we will meet to vet the nominees," the state-owned Sunday Vision reported quoting a source in the committee.

Among all the 20 members, 14 are from the ruling National Resistance Movement, three from the opposition Forum for Democratic Change, two from other parties and one independent.

It's likely that the committee will convene on Monday or Tuesday to scrutinize the curriculum vitae and integrity of the nominees. MPs have been asked to submit their the curriculum vitaes to the Clerk's Office.

The president has the prerogative of appointing ministers from among MPs and non-parliamentarians.

The parliament session last Friday was adjourned by the speaker to Tuesday afternoon when the appointments committee would have vetted some of the ministers.

The parliamentary approval of Gilbert Bukenya and Apolo Nsibambi to remain as vice-president and prime minister respectively on Friday set the stage for Museveni to name his third term executive.

Political observers say Museveni is likely to retain ministers who were re-elected as MPs and who are not tainted by scandals or allegations of corruption in his new cabinet.

Source: Xinhua