On 28th December 2024, Umukuka III, His Highness Jude Mike Mudoma, the Umukuka III of the Bamasaba people, made cabinet changes, dropping his Prime Minister and other ministers in the cabinet of the Bamasaba cultural institution.
The spokesperson of the Bamasaba cultural institution, Mr. Steven Masiga, told the Ankole Times that there were various reasons for relieving them of their responsibilities. Some of the reasons include the following:
-
Compliance with Legal Frameworks: Umukuka III was guided by Article 246(f) of the Constitution, which discourages cultural leaders or their agents from participating in politics. This is further supported by the Cultural Leaders Act 2011, for example, Section 12(3)(d), which states that any employee of a cultural or traditional institution should not engage in partisan politics. Many of those relieved of their responsibilities were active party members or chairpersons of political parties and held political party cards. For example, Hon. Makweta Allan is a National Unity Platform (NUP) parliamentary contestant, a position that is in violation of various legal texts, Masiga emphasized.
-
Conduct Detrimental to the Institution: Others, like former Kumi Resident District Commissioner Ahamada Washaki, had become scandalous. Instead of serving in his portfolio of reconciliation, he was engaged in intrigue against the cultural institution, including constructive disengagement or self-dismissal when he chose not to address himself as an Inzuya Masaba official in various cultural-related meetings. He refused to work on the requests of the Acholi King, where he was supposed to mediate in a murder dispute between a Bamasaba and an Acholi who was killed by a Bamasaba. This was to be resolved through blood compensation, which he failed to manage, even though Umukuka had assigned him the reconciliation docket. In summary, he failed to work for his cultural institution and was seen as being insubordinate by the cultural leader.
-
Right to Assemble and Manage Manpower: The laws that create cultural institutions, such as the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and other operative laws like the Traditional and Cultural Leaders Act 2011 as amended, empower Umukuka to assemble manpower to help him execute the roles of a cultural institution. He is, therefore, at liberty to hire and fire on behalf of the institution. While there was public demand for the removal of some cabinet ministers, this is not the sole reason for their dismissal.
-
Transition and Continuity: The departing team will, at an appropriate time, be requested to hand over office to the incoming team.
-
Appointment of New Officials: The following officials were appointed during the mini-cabinet reshuffle:
- Rt. Hon. Paul Mwambu as the New Prime Minister
- Dr. Kosea Wambaka as Deputy Prime Minister
- Mr. Mwenyi Davis, former District Planner for Manafwa District and now Assistant Commissioner in the Office of the President, as Deputy Prime Minister
- Hon. Emmanuel Mutanje as Minister for Investments and Entrepreneurship Development
- Hon. Makatu Patrick as Minister for Lands
-
Early Resignation for Political Aspirants: Guided by the prevailing legal texts, the cultural institution will ensure that anybody with political ambitions resigns nine months early as envisaged by the law, Masiga concluded.
-
Officials Relieved of Responsibility: The following officials were relieved of their responsibilities: Former Prime Minister Charles Walimbwa Peke, Hon. Wedaira Nelson, Hon. Ahamada Washaki, Hon. Allan Makweta, etc.
The cultural institution wishes these officials well outside the cultural establishment. They remain Bamasaba and will support the institution outside the cabinet structures of Bukuku.
