President Yoweri Museveni has Thursday appointed DP President Norbert Mao Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
This is contained in Museveni’s circular shared by Faruk Kirunda, his Deputy Press Secretary.
The office has been vacant since June 2021, when Museveni named a new Cabinet but left the position unfilled.
At the start of this year, Museveni appointed Public Service minister, Mr Wilson Muruli Mukasa, as acting minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, ending a six-month period.
The appointment follows a meeting between President Yoweri Museveni and Norbert Mao on Wednesday that led to the signing of working cooperation agreement between the parties they lead.
President Yoweri 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.
NRM Secretary General, Richard Todwong and that of DP, Gerald Siranda, witnessed the signing.
Speaking after the signing, Museveni congratulated Mao upon 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 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 a 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.
Meanwhile, President Museveni has also appointed Hamson Obua the new Government Chief Whip, a position previously held by Thomas Tayebwa before becoming the Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
Peter Ogwang who has been the Minister for Economic Monitoring in the Office of the President is now the Minister of State for Education and Sports.
Akello Beatrice Akori is now the State Minister for Economic Monitoring.