President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s decision to appoint a relative, Chris Nghaamwa, as adviser to attorney general Festus Mbandeka could pose a governance dilemma.
Nghaamwa, a retired chief legal adviser, served in the civil service for years until he retired in 2024. Although he was kept on after that, his appointment by the current president has attracted attention because he is her nephew.
The president’s decision is effectively equivalent to appointing a shadow attorney general. This could usurp Mbandeka’s constitutional powers. Will Mbandeka turn down advice from Nghaamwa, including matters from State House? Or will he tread carefully not to offend the president’s nephew.?
The lack of a proactive explanation could feed suspicions that appointing relatives could become a norm at a time when questions are already being asked about the role of her two sons in government affairs.
Nandi-Ndaitwah should remember that president Yoweri Museveni did not build a dynasty in Uganda in a single act. He built it appointment by appointment, each defended as a matter of merit, until the line between his family and the state disappeared.
The president would do well to treat transparency with the due diligence it deserves, and in a way that helps the public appreciate her leadership agenda.
