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.
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.
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.
By Reuters