Prime
Karimojong elders protest Janet Museveni’s appointment
Ms Janet Museveni, the newly appointed minister for Education and sports. File photo
Moroto.
A section of elders in Karamoja region have protested against the transfer of the First Lady Ms Janet Museveni from Karamoja affairs ministry to the education and sports sector.
Speaking to Daily Monitor in separate interviews, the elders said the decision by President Museveni to transfer his wife was an insult to the people of Karamoja who overwhelmingly voted for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Mr Mark Lokol an elder and a resident of Rupa Sub-county in Moroto District said with Janet Museveni in charge of Karamoja, the region realized several developments.
“Why as president Museveni thought of this, who advised him, does he knows that it’s Karamoja that made him to win this fifth term? And is this the way he wants to reward us,he should consider to put back the first lady to Karamoja,”he said.
Mr Lokol said the projects that the First Lady had lobbied for the people of Karamoja especially dams, oxen, among others is evidence enough that she was a performer.
Mr Sameul Ngole another elder in Nadunget Sub-County also argued that Janet Museveni’s transfer will slow development in the region.
“We have had many ministers including our own sons but they failed to do what Ms Museveni has done in Karamoja. This woman ended the fighting between the Karimojong and their neighbors over water and pastures because she lobbied for multipurpose water dams that have made the Karimojong to settle, something that the ministers before her failed,” he said.
Ms Fiona Nambuya, a farmer in Namalu Sub County in Nakapiripirit District said they were still impressed by the projects initiated by the First Lady for Karamoja to produce own food.
In a recent cabinet appointment, President Museveni named his wife Janet Museveni the new minister of educations and sports, replacing Ms Jessica Alupo.
The president replaced the First Lady with Mr John Byabagambi as the new minister in charge of Karamoja affairs.
