Friday, May 8, 2009

UGANDAN PARLIAMENT TO VET UGANDA'S UN AMBASSADOR IN NEW YORK

·

THE NEW VISION
KAMPALA, UGANDA
7th May, 2009

By Joyce Namutebi
and Catherine Bekunda

UGANDA’s permanent representative to the UN Security Council, Ruhakana Rugunda, will appear before the parliamentary appointments committee for vetting, Prime Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi has clarified.

“Dr. Rugunda has to be vetted by Parliament and he has been advised to come for vetting,” Nsibambi told Parliament yesterday.

He was reacting to a request by Apac district Woman MP, Betty Amongi (Independent), who wanted the Government to give its position on the matter.

Rugunda was appointed in December 2008 and assumed his duties in New York in January this year.

Amongi observed that the Parliament is in the process of approving the next budget and is supposed to appropriate money for foreign missions.

The opposition Forum for Democratic Change had wanted the Government to recall Rugunda, saying he was not approved by Parliament.

Rugunda’s appointment followed Uganda’s successful bid in October to become a non-permanent member of the 15-member security council. It represents eastern and southern Africa for a two-year term.

Another appointment that has been queried is that of Gen. Jeje Odongo as defence state minister. The appointments committee argues that he cannot be a minister while still a serving UPDF officer.

Since his appointment has not yet been formalised, Odongo has not been sworn in as an ex-officio MP and, therefore, cannot attend parliamentary proceedings.

A third nominee, Margaret Mbeiza, appointed as state minister for economic monitoring, was blocked by the committee which argued that she was not suitable to hold a ministerial office. No replacement has been identified yet for her position.

0 comments: