By Spy Uganda
The Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has Friday reshuffled his Kingdom Cabinet, dropping his once trusted and very powerful right hand man, David Mpanga who has been the Kingdom’s Attorney General.
Another notable figure relieved of his duties is the reshuffle is Apollo Nelson Makubuya, former deputy Katikiro (Prime Minister) and Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, who has seriously been eyeing Charles Peter Mayiga’s chair, according to our source based in the corridors of Mengo.
Both Mpanga of AF Mpanga Advocates (Bowmans) and Makubuya of MMAKS Advocates have received a lot of negative publicity in the recent past over their role in the controversial takeover of Crane Bank where they served as external lawyers to Bank of Uganda after pocketing millions which the just concluded COSASE probe said there was no proper documentation done on the moneys given to them. Infact,our sources noted last month that the duo tried to use their offices at Mengo to involve Kabaka Mutebi to mediate peace talks between some BoU officials and Sudhir Ruparelia whose Crane Bank was closed in 2017.
After bagging billions in questionable BoU deals both law firms were thrown off the case of representing BoU against Crane Bank over conflict of interest by the Commercial Court.
The two have been relieved of handling the kingdom’s legal matters and now play less significant roles in Buganda with Mpanga now assigned the ministry of special assignments, while Makubuya will be Chief Advisor to Buganda Kingdom.
Other than the duo, Several top officials including Charles Peter Mayiga, Henry Ssekabembe, Noah Kiyimba retained their positions as Katikiro, Minister for Youth, Sports and Recreation and Minister for information, protocol and Kingdom Spokesperson respectively. This, to some pundits was interpreted as simply to have been a ploy to get rid of the now two troubled lawyers from the top leadership.
Dr. Twaha Kawaase who was formerly the Second Deputy Katikiro & Minister for Education has been elevated to First Deputy Prime Minister in charge of administration and ICT/Innovations replacing Emmanuel L Ssendaula who is now the Chairperson of the senior Kingdom Advisors’ Committee.
Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa who was serving as the Minister for Finance, Investment, Planning and Economic Development is now the Second Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer.
