Why Always Leaving Out Northern Uganda In Big Gov't Appointments- Betty Amongi Questions Museveni Recent Permanent Secretaries Appointments

Former Minister Betty Amongi Ongom has questioned why Northern Uganda continues to receive limited representation in senior government appointments, following President Yoweri Museveni’s latest nominations of Permanent Secretaries and other top public officials.

In a statement issued on Monday, November 9, Amongi, a senior Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) politician, argued that the nominations raise serious questions about regional balance and equal opportunities in public service. She said Western Uganda appeared to have received the largest share of the 13 nominations, followed by Central and Eastern Uganda, while the greater Northern region secured only one or two positions.

Amongi particularly expressed concern about the apparent absence of nominees from Lango, a sub-region with a population of more than 2.5 million people. She claimed that Lango has gone nearly a decade without having a Permanent Secretary, describing this as part of a wider pattern of under-representation in Cabinet, the Judiciary, government agencies and the military.

She argued that Northern Uganda has qualified professionals capable of occupying senior government positions and should not continue to be overlooked because of its history of conflict or economic challenges. Amongi acknowledged that Museveni has consistently emphasised merit and competence when making appointments, but insisted that professional qualifications should go hand in hand with fair regional representation.

Citing the 1995 Constitution, she pointed to provisions on equality, non-discrimination, affirmative action and equal opportunities. She also referred to concerns raised by the Equal Opportunities Commission about regional disparities in public services and representation. According to her, government should explain how it considers regional diversity when selecting people for influential public offices.

Amongi also questioned the political implications of the apparent imbalance, especially given the growing support Museveni and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) have received in parts of Northern Uganda. She recalled that some leaders, including herself, had deliberately supported Museveni and helped strengthen the NRM’s political presence in the region, questioning why this support had not been reflected in senior government appointments. She stressed that Northern Uganda was not demanding automatic appointments based on identity, but fairness and equal access for qualified citizens.

However, the government has indicated that the appointments announced so far are part of a wider reorganisation that also involves retirements and the retention of some serving Permanent Secretaries. In a statement issued on Sunday, November 8, 2026, officials said further details, including the respective assignments, would be communicated later. Museveni also directed the Public Service Commission to assess the suitability of the nominees before their appointments are formalised, meaning the final regional distribution cannot yet be determined.

Despite the pending changes, Amongi wants government to make the appointment process more transparent and demonstrate how competence is balanced with inclusion. She warned that repeatedly leaving some communities with little representation in senior institutions could weaken public confidence in equal citizenship, insisting that Northern Uganda deserves fairness, recognition and a meaningful place in the country's public administration.