The Democratic Party is not going to back former Kampala woman Member of Parliament hopeful Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi to serve as a minister in President Yoweri Museveni’s government, party president Nobert Mao has revealed in a media briefing this afternoon.
Mao’s remarks come in the wake of President Museveni’s announcement of a new cabinet yesterday afternoon, in which the president named Nakiwala Kiyingi as the new State minister for Youth and Children Affairs.
“Hon. Nakiwala’s appointment has nothing to do with DP and we won’t back her to serve in Museveni’s government,” Mao said. “If shedecides to join Museveni’s new cabinet, she does it on her own behalf and interest, not as a DP member. But she is still a party member until further notice,” Mr Mao said.
“Museveni is not a person worth working fr because he never appreciates,” Mao added. As DP we have had a very bad experience with those relations. After the liberation war in 1986, DP members like John Ssebaana Kizito and Paul Kawanga Ssemwogerere joined Museveni courtesy of a gentleman’s agreement but they gained nothing and neither did DP as a party. We can’t work with him (Museveni) again.”
On her part, , Hon. Nakiwala Kiyingi has already indicated in a media interview that she is going to start work as minister as soon as parliament approves her.
“I have so many strategies of ensuring that youth in Uganda are taken care of. I am a hardworking woman and I can only assure you that Nakiwala is here to serve. You just watch the space. This is a unitary government and we’re all obliged to serve in our different capacities. I’m simply a humble servant of government and my appointment did not have to follow any special relationship. You just have to follow the constitution. They knew that I’m a hardworking woman and that’s they chose me for the post,” Nakiwala said after the news of her appointment yesterday.
Nakiwala recently lost the race for Kampala Woman Member of parliament to Nabilah Naggayi Sempala of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)and filed a court petition challenging the results, but shortly after withdrew the application which she was seeking a vote recount.
She is also a former Buganda government minister in several capacities including women and youth.