President Yoweri Museveni has sacked Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi replacing him with Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda.
This has been confirmed by government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo who says the latest changes only affect the Prime Ministers’ Office.
Ruhakana Rugunda becomes the 6th Prime Minister under the NRM government
Mbabazi’s sacking also comes at a time when a rift is reportedly growing between him and the president after he expressed interest in running for presidency in the 2016 general elections
Born 16 January 1949, Mbabazi is a senior lawyer and politician. He has served as Prime Minister since 24 May 2011 until 19 Sept 2014 when he was dropped from this position on.
Prior to this position, he served as the Minister for Security in the Ugandan Cabinet, from February 2009 until May 2011.
He also serves as the Secretary General of the ruling National Resistance Movement political party, a position he has held since November 2005.
Amama Mbabazi also serves as the Member of Parliament for Kinkiizi West constituency in Kanungu District, a position he has held since 1996 after the promulgation of the Constitution.[
Prior to joining politics, he worked as State Attorney in the Attorney Generals Chambers, rising to the position of Secretary of the Uganda Law Council.
He has also served as Minister of State in the President’s office, in-charge of Political Affairs.
Between 1986 and 1992 he was Minister of State for Defence. Subsequently, he served as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Cooperation.
In 2004, he was appointed as Attorney General and Minister of Justice. He held that portfolio until he was appointed Minister of Defence in 2006, a position he held until he was appointed Security Minister. He served as Security Minister from February 2009 until May 2011, when he was appointed Prime Minister. He is the tenth Prime Minister in Uganda’s history.
Mbabazi was accused in 2011 of receiving bribes as kickbacks from Irish oil firm Tullow Oil. Despite a Parliamentary investigation being initiated into the matter and calls from MPs for him to resign along with others accused, a lawyer managed to successfully sue the Attorney General and halt the proceedings and to block the calls for resignation.
