Isaac Musumba, Uganda's candidate for the position of assistant Secretary General for African affairs at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), will know his fate in September, Asuman Kiyingi minister of state for Regional Cooperation, has told The Observer.

Kiyingi, who returned from Egypt where he had gone to attend the 12th session of the Islamic Summit conference, said the organisation was still handling other issues. However, he added that it was agreed that the election of an assistant secretary general be expedited to give African countries a voice at the OIC.

Kiyingi is also still lobbying member countries to support Musumba's bid.

"We are still confident that Musumba will get the job. He is vastly experienced in matters to do with diplomacy," Kiyingi told The Observer this week.

However, there are still concerns after Uganda's failure to clear its annual membership subscription to the OIC, now at $500,000 (about Shs 1.2bn).

Last year, Musumba had hoped to take the position when Saudi Arabia, the leading funder of the organisation, in a surprise turn-around, decided to take the slot. This reportedly did not impress some African countries. As a compromise, Saudi Arabia agreed to the creation of the position of assistant Secretary General for African Affairs, handing Africa, more so Uganda, a lifeline.