Agness Nandutu/Courtesy photo
Members of Parliament from the Karamoja region have protested the appointments of Maria Goretti Kitutu and Agness Nandutu as Ministers in charge of Karamoja.
President Museveni on Tuesday evening appointed the former Energy Minister Maria Goretti Kitutu as Minister for Karamoja and former NTV journalist Agness Nandutu the Minister of State for Karamoja. Kitutu is the Woman MP Manafwa while Agness Nandutu is Bududa Woman MP.
In a press conference held on Friday at Parliament, the 15 MPs from Karamoja said that the appointments should be revised because appointing people from outside Karamoja will not help the people of Karamoja.
Remigio Achia, the Pian County MP and chair of the Karamoja Group says that Karamoja has a unique problem that doesn’t only require an understanding of the region, but also someone who understands the language and can mobilize the people.
He says that there is insecurity in Karamoja due to increasing cattle rustling. He says that such challenges need to be addressed by a native minister.
According to Achia, the past Ministers of Karamoja who do not hail from the region have been tourists in the area because they don’t understand the needs of the natives.
Faith Nakut, the Woman MP Napak says that the problem with Ministers who are not from Karamoja, they come with a mentality that people in Karamoja are backward, and this hinders them from working.
The MPs say that the President should revise the cabinet.
Paul Lokol, the LCV Chairperson Nabilatuk says that the appointment of the two ministers who hail from the Bugisu region to manage Karamoja affairs is an insult to the people of Karamoja.
He says that despite the Karimojong being loyal to NRM, they are still not pleased with the appointments.
“Why send the same people from Bugisu to Karamoja. Are our MPs not legible for those positions? He asked.
Simon Nangiro one of the opinion leaders says that the appointment of Kitutu and Nadutu both is meant to impress the Bagisu region and not Karamojong.
Joyce Nangiro, a resident of Moroto Municipality says appointing people who do not know pastoralism will not address the concerns of the Karamojongs.
-URN
