Amongi Questions Northern Uganda’s Exclusion From New PS Appointments

What the report says

Former minister Betty Amongi has criticised President Yoweri Museveni’s latest Permanent Secretary appointments, arguing that they show regional imbalance and continue to leave Northern Uganda underrepresented in senior government posts. The comments, reported by Nile Post, focused in particular on Lango Sub-region, which Amongi said received no appointment despite its population and its availability of qualified professionals.

Amongi, a former Oyam South legislator, said the distribution of the posts appeared to favour Western Uganda, with Central and Eastern regions also receiving appointments, while greater Northern Uganda got only a small share. She said the absence of representation from Lango was especially troubling because, in her view, the sub-region has gone for nearly a decade without a Permanent Secretary in government. She framed the issue as part of a wider pattern extending beyond the civil service to other areas of national life.

The former minister also challenged the idea that appointments should rely on “substance” alone, arguing that merit and fair regional representation should not be treated as competing goals. She cited the Constitution’s principles on equality, non-discrimination, affirmative action and inclusion, saying public appointments should reflect Uganda’s diversity while still respecting competence.

Amongi further referred to broader concerns about unequal development and representation in Northern Uganda, including findings previously raised by the Equal Opportunities Commission. Her remarks come amid continuing political debate over how senior public offices are distributed across the country and whether appointment patterns reflect national balance.