NATIONAL: Social media is awash with comments disparaging the appointment of Democratic Party President General Nobert Mao as new Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister.
President Yoweri Museveni this morning appointed the fiery DP president as Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, replacing the Minister of Public Service Muruli Mukasa who has served in acting capacity since January.
“By virtue of the authority conferred on the President by Article 113(1) and 144 (1) of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, I hereby appoint persons below as cabinet ministers and ministers of State…Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs-Hon. Nobert Mao, Chairman General of the Democratic Party,” President Museveni said in a statement dated July, 21,2022 that this website has seen.
The development comes on the heels of a cooperation agreement signed between the DP stalwart and President Museveni at State House Entebbe on Wednesday.
The agreement has, however, attracted scorn from a section of society who claim Mao’s deal with President Museveni is a betrayal to the country.
“So Mao has all along been insulting NUP and Bobi Wine so that President Museveni can offer him a ministerial post? Anyway those of us who understood the script are not shocked,” said a netizen going by the name Crispus Zaidin.
There are, however, those who claim Mao has done the right thing to work with Museveni.
“Mao has made the right decision. It is his turn to eat, relax and busk in his own future,” self proclaimed activist.
A section of the public has always associated Mao with links to the ruling NRM. In a bizarre political innuendo, Mukono Municipality MP Betty Namboze referred to Mao as a pumpkin with a green colour on the outside but yellow inside.
But Mao’s move is not the first time an opposition leader is taking up a position in a ruling government.
At the time of independence, Basil Bataringaya, popularly referred to as the father of opposition cross-overs, who was by the time serving as DP secretary general, together with six other DP MPs crossed over from the opposition and joined Apollo Milton Obote’s ruling cabinet. Obote appointed him Home Affairs minister.
