Uganda regulator called in to clean up

President Yoweri Museveni’s decision to appoint Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) chief executive Benon Matumbi as permanent secretary in the Department of Internal Affairs will test the theory that competent, honest technocrats can improve governance in even the most political of departments. Museveni in early November changed several powerful permanent secretaries, including sacking Fred Kabagambe-Kaliisa, who had held the post at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources for over 20 years. Government sources said he was seeking to mobilise party and national consensus following his re-election in February amid concerns over corruption.