Uganda president appoints opposition leader to Cabinet post

By Hamza Kyeyune

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni appointed on Thursday the opposition leader of the country’s oldest political party to a Cabinet post in the ruling government.

“I hereby appoint persons below as Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs- Hon. Norbert Mao, Chairman General of the Democratic Party,” Museveni said in a statement.

Mao replaces Maj. Gen. Kahiinda Otafiire who moved to the Internal Affairs Ministry since a Cabinet reshuffling last year.

The appointment comes one day after Mao met Museveni and signed a cooperation agreement on behalf of the two parties.

The meeting was criticized by opposition leaders as a sale of the Democratic Party to the ruling regime.

“The pretense is over,” said National Unity Platform Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya. “The mistake some analysts make is to assume that everyone who calls themselves opposition is actually opposition.”

For years, Mao has been accused by fellow opposition members of being a mole working for Museveni.

Occasionally, he has dismissed the allegations, saying they are aimed at tainting his image.

Museveni has said there is no opposition in Uganda, describing those who oppose his regime as disgruntled and youngsters who have no jobs.

There was a significant exodus of top party leaders before the heated 2021 elections because of Mao’s seemingly close ties with the State House.