Obongi Member of Parliament Fungaroo Kaps Hassan has raised fresh concerns over Uganda’s cabinet structure, arguing that political loyalty has increasingly taken precedence over competence in ministerial appointments.
Speaking during an interview on NBS Television, the legislator criticized what he described as a growing trend that undermines effective governance.
Hassan said the cabinet is no longer primarily viewed as a platform for selecting qualified individuals to drive policy and service delivery.
Instead, he argued, it is increasingly being used to reward political allegiance.
According to him, this shift risks weakening institutional performance at a time when the country requires skilled leadership across key sectors.
“The cabinet is now viewed as a platform for rewarding members for loyalty instead of competence,” he stated, adding that such an approach compromises the quality of decision-making within government.
He also pointed to concerns over the expanding size of the cabinet, noting that the increasing number of ministers and ministers of state raises both legal and practical questions.
Hassan observed that while the law provides limits on cabinet composition, the current structure appears to stretch those boundaries.
“The number of ministers has grown. There are limits in the law in terms of how many are supposed to be cabinet ministers and ministers of state. There is a problem in the size and substance of members of cabinet,” he said.
Beyond numbers, the MP emphasized the importance of aligning appointments with professional competence.
He outlined knowledge, attitude, and skills as the core pillars that define an individual’s suitability for a given role, warning that mismatches between roles and qualifications continue to emerge.
“Knowledge, attitude and skills are the three that make up the competence of an individual in a particular field. There are certain cases where the appointments don't match the competences of the appointees,” he added.
Hassan further criticized what he termed as a longstanding structural issue under President Yoweri Museveni’s administration—the overlap between the Executive and Parliament.
He argued that appointing sitting MPs to cabinet positions weakens parliamentary oversight, as legislators tasked with holding the Executive accountable become part of it.
“One big problem has persisted over President Museveni's regime and that's the fusion of the Executive and Parliament. MPs lose their role as oversight when they become cabinet members,” he said.
The remarks add to ongoing debate within Uganda’s political space over governance reforms, accountability, and the balance of power between state institutions.