President Museveni Appoints Daughter Natasha Museveni as Governor of the Central Bank of Uganda: Uganda Power Shift All to One Family

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, after securing re-election, has appointed his daughter, Mrs. Natasha Museveni, as the Governor of the Central Bank of Uganda. Meanwhile, the First Lady, Mrs. Janet Kataaha Museveni, holds the position of Minister of Education and Sport. In addition, the President's son serves as the Chief of Defense Forces in Uganda. Museveni was declared the winner in Thursday's election, extending his nearly four decades in power by another five years. According to the election commission, he garnered 72% of the vote, while his closest contender, Bobi Wine, secured 25%. Wine has rejected the results, alleging "fake results" and "ballot stuffing." However, he has yet to provide evidence for these claims, and authorities have not directly addressed the accusations. The African Union election observers stated they found "no evidence of ballot stuffing." Wine has since called for peaceful protests.

At 81 years old, Museveni first came to power as a rebel leader in 1986 and has since claimed victory in seven elections. Despite the announcement of his win, reports of intermittent violence have emerged in specific neighborhoods. The country has faced an internet blackout since Tuesday, which has hindered the verification of information. Authorities defended the shutdown, arguing it was necessary to prevent misinformation, fraud, and the incitement of violence—a justification criticized by the United Nations. Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, leading the African Union observer mission, urged the government to desist from suspending internet access during elections. He also condemned reports of intimidation, arrests, and abductions, asserting that these acts generated fear and eroded public trust in the electoral process, according to AFP news agency.

Photo credit: Instagram President Museveni

Tony Blair, Mark Carney, and Marco Rubio Appointed to Trump-Led Gaza Reconstruction Board

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio have been named members of a newly established international body tasked with leading the reconstruction of Gaza after years of widespread devastation due to ongoing conflict. This organization, called the Board of Peace, will be chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump. It is a cornerstone of an American-led initiative supported by the United Nations, focusing on demilitarizing Gaza and rebuilding the region after the prolonged conflict between Israel and Hamas. According to U.S. officials, the board’s primary function will be to oversee long-term efforts to stabilize Gaza and coordinate global investment and development initiatives. Founding members include Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, investor Marc Rowan, and World Bank President Ajay Banga. Several global leaders have acknowledged receiving invitations to participate in this initiative. Canadian officials confirmed that Prime Minister Carney has accepted. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was also invited, while Argentine President Javier Milei publicly announced he had been asked to join as a founding member. Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is considering his invitation, according to official statements.

Trump described the Board of Peace as an extraordinary group, dubbing it the most influential international body ever assembled. The White House emphasized that each board member will have a specific role critical to Gaza's rebuilding and governance. The absence of representation from the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank, has sparked criticism. Under the plan, the Palestinian Authority is intended to assume control of Gaza in the future following extensive reforms. This exclusion has been denounced by Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group, as a move favoring Israeli objectives and catering to their interests.

Blair’s appointment, in particular, has sparked debate. Although he served as the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister for a decade, his involvement in Middle Eastern affairs remains contentious due to Britain’s role in the Iraq war and his tenure as a regional envoy—a period during which Palestinians often accused him of bias toward Israel. Under the framework outlined by the United States, day-to-day operations in Gaza will be managed by a specialized 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee chaired by Dr. Ali Sha’ath, a Palestinian native of Gaza with prior experience within the Palestinian Authority. The committee is tasked with overseeing essential services and rebuilding institutions to enhance civilian life. Nickolay Mladenov, a former United Nations Middle East peace coordinator, has been assigned the role of high representative for Gaza. He will act as a liaison between the technocratic committee, the Board of Peace, and regional stakeholders.

The agreement outlines plans for the technocratic committee to temporarily govern Gaza until a restructured Palestinian Authority is ready to take over. This transition is envisioned as a step toward enabling Palestinian self-determination. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has firmly opposed granting any authority over Gaza to the Palestinian Authority and continues to reject prospects of Palestinian statehood. Israeli officials confirmed their extensive involvement in selecting members of the technocratic committee, ensuring that no individuals connected to Hamas or directly affiliated with the Palestinian Authority were included. Israel's internal security agency approved all 15 members.

An additional executive board has been established to assist in managing governance efforts in Gaza. This board comprises representatives from Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates alongside members from both the Board of Peace and the technocratic committee. Israel has expressed strong opposition to this new executive board’s formation, arguing that its structure was devised without prior consultation with Israeli authorities and contradicts their official policies. Netanyahu has ordered Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to convey Israel's concerns to Secretary Rubio directly.