The Illusion of 'Eating the National Cake': Cabinet Appointments Debunked

The recurrent debate surrounding Cabinet appointments often centers on which ethnic or regional groups have “eaten” the “national cake.” However, this notion is largely a fallacy, more illusory than real. Recent protests from communities like the Muslim community and the Bagisu of eastern Uganda, feeling short-changed in new appointments, highlight this persistent perception.

The core fallacy lies in assuming that a minister’s appointment translates into direct access to national resources for their entire community. This perspective, a common tragedy in postcolonial Africa, views powerful public positions as avenues for group resource acquisition. While Cabinet composition ideally should reflect the nation’s diversity, this should not be mistaken for cosmetic balancing or a mandate for ministers to exclusively channel development to their home areas.

Ministers are appointed to serve the entire nation, not specific villages, districts, or religious groups. Any attempt to divert resources exclusively to favored communities would constitute corruption. The recent iron sheets scandal, where several ministers illegally obtained or misused materials meant for the vulnerable in Karamoja, serves as a stark illustration of this pathology.

Empirical evidence suggests little correlation between ministerial appointments and tangible development outcomes or improved well-being for a minister’s home region or community. Historical examples, such as Amama Mbabazi’s powerful roles with little discernible impact on his home district of Kanungu, or the Bugisu sub-region’s experience despite having had influential figures like James Wapakhabulo and ministers of State for Works and Energy, underscore this point. Even with prolonged tenures, such as Irene Muloni as Energy minister, her home district did not see exceptional rural electrification.

Similarly, the prolonged tenures of Jessica Alupo as Vice President and Edward Ssekandi as Speaker and then Vice President have not demonstrably transformed their respective areas of Katakwi and Bukoto. This illusion, perpetuated by some political narratives, that ministers and MPs are chief development engineers for their ancestral regions, often overshadows the reality of limited direct benefit.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/commentary/cabinet-posts-fallacy-of-group-eating—5479016