Parliament’s Appointments Committee has so far rejected the approval of one of the 80 ministers designated by President Yoweri Museveni recently.
The committee that is in charge of vetting and approving of all presidential nominees including ministers, judges and heads of agencies and departments, on Wednesday handled a total of 29 designated ministers.
ChimpReports has learnt that the state minister designate for the Elderly and Disabilities, Mrs. Tibaleka Adrian was knocked off the list by the Committee over a number of issues.
According sources who attended the ever closed door committee meeting, Mrs. Tibaleka did not possess the qualities or eligibility to be elected as a Member of Parliament which is a constitutional requirement for ministerial appointments.
“We found that she is not a registered voter. The law clearly says only those who can be elected Members of Parliament can be ministers,” a source who attended the vetting process said.
Article 113 (1) of the 1995 Constitution is restrictive; “Cabinet Ministers shall be appointed by the President with the approval of Parliament from among members of Parliament or persons qualified to be elected members of Parliament.”
ChimpReports understands Tibaleka told MPs on the committee that she only participated in the National Resistance Movement primary elections in October 2015 and not the national elections held in February this year.
It also emerged during the vetting, that Tibaleka has different names on her academic papers. The names she used in her primary education were not the ones that appeared on her secondary school certificates. Her transcript for higher education also has different names. The past work records of Tibaleka were also not coordinated according to sources.
The committee chaired by the Speaker Rebecca Kadaga thus decided to shelve her case.
Tibaleka becomes the first victim of the 47 ministerial nominees so far handled by the committee.
ChimpReports has also confirmed that veteran politician Hajji Abdu Naduli was approved by the committee as minister without portfolio.