Uganda: Nasser Ssebagala Appointed Senior Presidential Advisor

President Yoweri Museveni has reshuffled ambassadors representing Uganda in foreign mission naming his former Principal Private Secretaries (PPS) and political allies among them.

In the appointments dated August 15, former Kampala Mayor Nasser Ssebaggala who missed out on becoming minister on account of questionable academic qualifications has been named Senior Presidential advisor special duties.

The president also shuffled the Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) for the 112 districts and their deputies, retaining a bulk of them, albeit changing most of their stations and promoted two long-serving officers to Presidential Advisor.

In a list of new ambassadors released yesterday, the President named his former PPS Grace Akello and her deputy s Kintu Nyago as ambassador to Rome and New York, respectively.

Kintu will deputise Richard Nduhura who was appointed early in the week while Akello replaces Deo Rwabita.

In a move seen as in line with his vow to restructure the ruling NRM secretariat, Museveni has sent NRM deputy Secretary General, Dorothy Hyuha to Dar es Salaam as high commissioner.

In the cabinet reshuffle early in the week the president also named, Richard Twodong, as minister for political mobilization.

Museveni also reached out to former ICT minister, Alintuma Nsambu who recently lost a bitter by-election in Bukoto South, Lwengo district by appointing him to head the mission in Asmara, Eritrea.

Former Mbale MP, Oliver Wonekha, who also failed in her attempt to get elected to EALA (EA Parliament, has been posted to head the mission in Washington, USA. Prof. Sam Turyamuhika, an academic and Kampala based researcher has been sent to volatile Mogadishu, Somalia where AU forces led by UPDF are helping the Horn of Africa country regain stability.

Turyamuhika will be deputized by former AMISOM force commander, Maj. Gen. Nathan Mugisha.

Busho Ndiyenka, who pioneered as consul in Juba South Sudan has been recalled to the ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters and replaced by soldier-man, Maj. Gen. Rusoke to head the mission upgraded to embassy status.

Long serving High Commissioner to London, Joan Rwabyomere has been named Presidential Advisor for Cultural Affairs under Elizabeth Bagaya who is the senior advisor on the same subject. Rwabyomere has been replaced by Dr Joyce Kikafunda.

Other advisors are former Rakai district chairman, Vincent Ssemakula (Buganda Affairs), former Bugiri district chairman, Siraje Lyavara (Busoga Affairs) while former envoys; Joseph Tomusange, Ibrahim Mukiibi and Francis Butagira are advisors on retainer.

They are joined by ageing former deputy Premier, Kirunda Kivejinja who will advise the president on veteran affairs.

In the RDCs reshuffle, former broadcaster turned politician, Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka has been brought back to Kampala from Kumi; switching posts with his predecessor, Alice Muwanguzi.

Former assistant RDC to Nakawa who has been in the cold since his failed attempt to represent Kampala central into Parliament has been re-appointed and sent to Mpigi. Equally Ssembabule LC V loser, Herman Ssentongo, has been posted to Yumbe district while former MP Juliet Kabonesa Ssekitoleko is Kanungu RDC.

The list also draws in businessman and Jinja mayoral seat loser, Majid Batambuze as RDC Budaka while former civil servant and EALA seat loser, Abas Agaba was posted to Serere.

Long serving RDC Margaret Baryehuuki and Francis Batinti have been named senior presidential affairs on political affairs and Rukungiri respectively.