Katuntu Tipped to Replace Mulyagonja as IGG
President Yoweri Museveni has tactfully dropped Justice Irene Mulyagonja as Inspector General of Government and sent her to the Court of Appeal. From the grapevine, the Bugweri county MP and former Shadow Attorney General Abdul Katuntu could replace Mulyagonja.
The move is said to have been designed to end Mulyagonja’s troubled reign at the inspectorate that was fast rumored when Museveni appointed his very trusted cadre Edith Nakalema to lead a parallel anti- graft unit, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit.
Mulyagonja replaced Justice Faith Kalikwani Mwondha in April 2012 after Mwondha (now a Justice at the Supreme Court) declined to appear before the Parliamentary Appointments Committee protesting vetting by people she called corrupt.
President Museveni in a letter addressed to the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga also named Monica Mugenyi Kalegira and Muzamiru Kibedi Mutangula new Justice at the Court of Appeal in efforts to constitute the bench well enough to handle the case backlog.
In the same letter, Museveni also named Isaac Muwata, Immaculate Busingye, Byaruhanga Jesse Rugyema, Vicent Emmy Mugabo, Jane Okuo, Esther Nambayo, Phillip Odoki, Victoria Nakintu, Boniface Wamala, Isah Serunkuuma, Suzan Abinyo, Katumba Nkwanga and Jeanne Rwakakoko as judges of the High court.
Katuntu who has recently been head of the committee on state Authorities and Statutory Enterprises, COSASE is a well experienced legislator, respected lawyer and a moderate politician. Despite his membership to the large opposition group FDC, Katuntu is said to be a friendly force to the state given his moderate stance and objective handling of the parliamentary work.
Unless otherwise influenced, Katuntu had declared he was quitting elective politics in 2021 but there are growing signs that the powerful legislator could rescind his earlier declaration and stand again. If appointed IGG, Katuntu will be the latest blow that is depleting Uganda’s opposition of politicians of reason and giving extremists a leeway. He is been lukewarm to political activism that has characterized the forces of change here.
