Museveni drops 35 ministers, picks his wife for key education portfolio

Kampala – Ugandan long-time ruler Yoweri Museveni has dropped at least 35 ministers from his incoming government, after clinching a controversial election victory early this year, reports the Daily Monitor.

Museveni, 71, has ruled the east African country for the last three decades. He was declared the winner of the February presidential election, with 60% of the vote, and sworn in for a new term on May 12.

The veteran leader announced his new cabinet on Monday, picking his wife, Janet Kataaha, as the new education and sports minister.

According to reports, the education ministry was usually a coveted portfolio in Uganda as it took the largest chunk of the annual budget.

Museveni retained his prime minister and ministers in the key energy and finance jobs.

Andrew Karamagi, a human rights lawyer and political commentator, was quoted in the news as saying that the new cabinet’s selection criteria appeared based on a need to balance varied ethnic and religious interests to maintain a broad base of political support. – AFP