Uganda gets new ICT Minister in ‘minor’ Cabinet reshuffle
President Yoweri Museveni Thursday made changes to his cabinet, with Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda moving from the ICT ministry to Health, where he served in the ’90s.
Former minister of Works, Eng. John Nasasira has now been appointed the ICT Minister.
Dr. Rugunda has served in the ICT Ministry for close to 3 years, and last week officiated at the launch of the ICT Association of Uganda (ICTAU).
“The ICT Association of Uganda is welcome to support the efforts of NITA-U and the Government in general in developing the ICT sector and eliciting benefits from the sector to Ugandans of all walks of life,” said Rugunda at the launch of the ICTAU.
“This could be realized through the active participation by the Association in policy issues that the Government may wish to consult on – thus providing advisory services that will ensure that our people and the private sector interests are catered for in government planning and implementation,” he added.
ICTAU Chairman, Simon Kaheru, welcomed the appointment of Eng. John Nasasira, calling upon stakeholders to work with the new Minister to develop the sector:
“Let’s welcome Eng. John Nasasira to the Ministry of ICT as Full Minister and work with him for the improvement of our Sector,” Kaheru said in a statement.
“WE ALL have a role to play in making things work – the Minister and his team as well as we, the Private Sector and members of the general public,” he added.
In other changes, Army boss Gen. Aronda Nyakairima has been appointed new Minister of Internal affairs while Katumba Wamala is the new Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
In other changes, Mary Karooro Okurut moves to the Gender, Labour and Social Development Ministry. Former Health Minister ONdoa becomes presidential advisor on Health.
Rose Namayanja takes over as Information and National Guidance Minister from Okurut. Hillary Onek, who was at Internal affairs Minister, is moved to Disaster Preparedness and Refugees.
About Eng. John Nasasira
61-year-old John Nasasira has continuously represented Kazo County, Kiruhura District, in the Ugandan Parliament, from 1989 until today, a span of over two (2) decades. Between 1989 and 1991, he served as Minister of State for Works. From 1991 until 1992, he served as an Adviser to the President of Uganda on Public Relations. In 1992 he was appointed Minister of State for Works, Transportation and Communications, servng in that capacity until 1994.
From 1994 until 1995, Nasasira was one of the delegates to the Constituent Assembly that drew up the 1995 Uganda Constitution. He also served as Minister of State for Agriculture, during the same period. In 1995, he was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, serving there until 1996. In 1996, he was appointed Minister of Works, Housing and Communications. For ten (10) years, he served in that capacity, making him one of the longest-lasting cabinet appointments in the National Resistance Movement government. In 2006, a new Ministry of Information Communication Technology was created and John Nasasira’s portifolio became Minister of Works and Transportation.
