KAMPALA – Mbale Industrial Division Member of Parliament Karim Masaba has welcomed the recent reshuffle of Permanent Secretaries but called for wider changes across government ministries and agencies, saying regular rotation of accounting officers could help curb corruption and improve accountability.
Masaba said the changes announced by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni were welcome but fell short of expectations, arguing that more government institutions should have been included in the reshuffle.
In his remarks, the legislator warned that keeping accounting officers in the same ministries or agencies for extended periods could encourage corruption, manipulation and wastage of public resources.
He explained that prolonged stays in particular positions allow some officials to establish networks that may become difficult to dismantle, potentially undermining transparency and effective management of public institutions.
Masaba said regular transfers of senior accounting officers would help prevent the development of entrenched interests and strengthen accountability in government.
However, he expressed disappointment over what he described as a lack of religious and regional representation in the latest appointments.
The MP, who identified himself as a Muslim, questioned why no Muslim had been appointed among the reshuffled Permanent Secretaries, saying he had expected at least one or more members of the religious community to be considered.
He also raised concerns about the absence of representation from the Bugisu sub-region, arguing that the area has qualified and educated individuals capable of serving in senior government positions.
Masaba said the exclusion of the region was disappointing, particularly given the availability of people with the necessary academic qualifications and experience to take up such responsibilities.
Despite his concerns, the legislator maintained that the President’s decision to rotate some accounting officers was a positive step, while expressing hope that further reshuffles would be undertaken across other government entities.
He said wider changes would provide an opportunity to improve public service delivery, strengthen accountability and ensure that qualified people from different regions and religious backgrounds are considered for senior government appointments.
