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KAMPALA — A flashy celebration thrown to mark the appointment of Morris Muhindo as Under Secretary at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs has exploded into a heated debate online, with critics asking one burning question: why throw a party over a civil service appointment?
The Friday night bash, attended by a who’s-who of ruling party bigwigs, has left social media buzzing — some praising the young technocrat’s rise, others blasting the extravagance as tone-deaf at a time when many Ugandans are struggling to make ends meet.
Among those spotted at the celebration were Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, who attended alongside his wife, NRM Chief Whip who recently lost polls Hamson Obua, former NRM SG Justine Kasule Lumumba, Junior ICT Minister and Kasese tribemate Godfrey Kabyanga, State Ministers Lillian Aber and Phiona Nyamutoro, among other political allies and friends.
But while glasses clinked and congratulatory speeches flowed freely inside the venue, outside — particularly on social media — the mood was far less celebratory.
Many Ugandans appeared puzzled by what they described as an over-the-top celebration for what is essentially a bureaucratic appointment in the civil service.
One social media user, Bongole Moses, did not mince words as he called out the pomp surrounding the event.
“Celebrating what now? Elevation? Appointment? Victory? Or something,” he wrote in a post directed at Deputy Speaker Tayebwa. “Ugandans can waste time and resources.”
Another commenter, Geoffrey Mukwaya, raised concerns about the optics of politics mixing with senior civil service positions.
“An Under Secretary in the Ugandan civil service should not be a partisan politician,” he argued, hinting at the delicate line between technocratic appointments and political loyalty.
But defenders of Muhindo were quick to fire back.
Edgar Kiiza dismissed the criticism, arguing that Muhindo has long transitioned from active politics into professional administration.
“The last time Morris held a political position was more than a decade ago,” he said. “He has been a technocrat.”
Still, the backlash refused to die down.
Some critics wondered whether the extravagant celebration was necessary at all.
“But was this celebration necessary?” asked social media user Mitala Knock.
Another commentator, Alfred Mwuva, mocked the scale of the event.
“What is it to celebrate? What will happen if he is appointed a Permanent Secretary?” he quipped.
Others were blunter.
“All that pomp because someone was promoted.”
Another social media critic went even further, accusing the political class of being detached from the realities ordinary citizens face.
“Look at the decorations just for a mere job promotion,” wrote Munezero Juma.
The debate grew even more intense when some observers raised security concerns about publicly celebrating an appointment in such a sensitive ministry.
One X user warned that publicly highlighting Muhindo’s responsibilities could raise eyebrows.
“Hon. Deputy Speaker, I’m surprised that you don’t see a problem with this kind of thing you’re doing — celebrating the promotion of a comrade and publicly declaring his role as the handler of classified documents,” the user wrote. “Sensitivity to such matters must be held to high levels.”
Despite the online storm, the celebration itself reportedly proceeded with speeches praising Muhindo’s rise in public service.
Deputy Speaker Tayebwa, who addressed the gathering, insisted that the event should not be seen as mere revelry but as a moment to reflect on the responsibilities that come with public office.
“I do not look at this as merely a celebration, but rather as the launch of a new challenge and responsibility,” Tayebwa said.
“Public service, especially in such a sensitive institution, demands integrity, discipline and a deep sense of duty.”
Tayebwa described Muhindo as a “brilliant young man and loyal cadre,” expressing confidence that he would serve diligently under the leadership of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
The Deputy Speaker also reminded the newly appointed Under Secretary that handling classified government documents requires the highest levels of trust.
“Protect government secrets diligently while ensuring transparency and professionalism in your office,” Tayebwa advised.
He even recommended that Muhindo read the book The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav, saying it offers insights into authentic leadership rooted in responsibility and integrity.
Behind the political glamour and social media controversy, Muhindo’s appointment also carries deeper historical and regional undertones.
The new Defence Ministry Under Secretary is the son of Col.Dura Muhindo Mawa, a former Kasese District Chairman and military officer who commanded the Alpine Brigade during the height of the Allied Democratic Forces insurgency in the late 1990s.
The Alpine Brigade — often commanded by officers from the Bakonjo community — played a key role in operations in the rugged Rwenzori mountains along the Uganda–DR Congo border.
Some observers are quietly wondering whether Muhindo’s appointment could also be interpreted as recognition of his family’s historical role in that conflict.
Muhindo himself is not new to political circles.
In 2011, he attempted to enter student leadership politics when he contested for the Makerere University Guild Presidency on the NRM ticket — though he lost the race.
Years later, he has now climbed into one of the most sensitive administrative positions within the Defence Ministry.
But as the online backlash shows, many Ugandans are less interested in the career journey and more puzzled by the spectacle that accompanied it.
To them, the bigger issue remains symbolic: when a civil service appointment becomes a political celebration, what message does it send about public service?
For now, while the music from the bash has faded and the guests have returned to their homes, the debate it sparked is far from over.
