Museveni names Cabinet, appoints wife to Education ministry
Tuesday June 07 2016
Almost a month after swearing-in for his fifth term, Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has named his Cabinet which has seen the premier, vice president, Finance, Energy and Foreign Affairs ministers retain their positions while his wife got a key ministry.
President Museveni, 71, appointed his wife Janet to the Ministry of Education and Sports which though among the portfolios that receive a large share of the annual budget has for years been dogged by strikes.
The appointment also comes two weeks after the president promoted his son from brigadier to major general.
READ: Ugandan president's son denies he wants to succeed father
In her new role, Mrs Museveni also faces growing criticism over the quality of education that has beleaguered the sector.
Since 2009, Mrs Museveni served as a deputy minister in the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs before being elevated to full minister in 2011.
Karamoja in northeastern Uganda had long been considered unattractive once being famously rejected by a former minister and bush war fighter Tom Butiime because it suffered chronic under funding. When the president's wife took over, Karamoja gained new life as she easily attracted both resources and national attention to it.
In the new expanded list of 81 ministerial positions, Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, Vice President Edward Ssekandi, Matia Kasaija (Finance), Gen Kahinda Otafiire (Justice), Irene Muloni (Energy) and Sam Kutesa (Foreign Affairs) retained their posts.
The Cabinet now has 32 ministers and 48 state ministers up from 30 and 48 positions respectively.
Museveni looked to inject fresh blood in his government that has seen him dropped 35 ministers and deputies.
Museveni has tapped Kampala lawyer and real estate developer William Byaruhanga as the Attorney-General retiring Fred Ruhindi.
Minister of Defence Dr Crispus Kiyonga who lost his parliamentary seat in the February General Election to an opposition politician has also been retired with Mr Adolf Mwesige formerly in Local Government taking up the post.
Two key opposition figures – Ms Betty Olive Kamya, leader of the Uganda Federal Alliance (UFA) party and Ms Betty Amongi, a Uganda People’s Congress stalwart and wife to Mr Jimmy Akena, son of former President Milton Obote – have also made it to Cabinet as ministers for Kampala City Authority and Lands respectively.
Mrs Museveni retired from elective politics this year declining to seek re-election for her Ruhama constituency in Ntungamo district meaning that her retention in the Cabinet took many by suprise and may hint at Museveni’s plans for retirement in 2021.
Uganda's ministers 2016
Docket | |
Vice President | KIWANUKA EDWARD SSEKANDI |
Prime Minister | DR RUHAKANA RUGUNDA |
1st Deputy Prime Minister & Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament | GEN MOSES ALI |
2nd Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Affairs | KIRUNDA KIVEJINJA |
Minister of Foreign Affairs | KUTESSA KAHAMBA SAM |
Minister of Health | DR ACENG JANE |
Minister of Works and Transport | ENGINEER NTEGE AZUBA |
Minister of Lands, Housing & Urban Development | AMONGI BETTY |
Minister of Water & Environment | CHEPTORIS SAM |
Minister of Justice & Constitutional Affairs | MAJ GEN KAHINDA OTAFIIRE |
Attorney-General | BYARUHANGA WILLIAM (ADVOCATE) |
Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs | MWESIGE ADOLF |
Minister of Local Government | BUTIME TOM |
Minister for Karamoja Affairs | BYABAGAMBI JOHN |
Minister of Energy and Minerals | MULONI IRENE |
Minister of Information, ICT & Communications | TUMWEBAZE FRANK |
Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation | DR TUMWESIGYE ELIODA |
Minister in Charge of General Duties/Office of the Prime Minister | BUSINGYE MARY KAROORO OKURUT |
Minister of Disaster Preparedness & Refugees | ONEK HILARY |
Minister of Tourism, Wildlife & Antiquities | PROF KAMUNTU EPHRAIM |
Minister for the Presidency | MBAYO ESTHER MBULAKUBUZA |
Minister of Security | LT GEN TUMUKUNDE HENRY |
Minister without Portfolio | HAJJI NADDULI |
Minister for Kampala City Authority | KAMYA BETTY |
Government Chief Whip | NANKABIRWA SENTAMU RUTH |
Minister of Gender, Labour & Social affairs | MUKWAYA JANAT |
Ministers of State | |
Office of the President: Minister of State for Economic Monitoring Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity | KASIRIVU BALTAZAH ATWOKI LOKODO SIMON |
Office of the Vice President:
| ONZIMA ALEX |
Office of the Prime Minister: Minister of State for Northern Uganda Minister of State for Karamoja Minister of State for Teso Affairs Minister of State for Bunyoro Affairs | ECWERU MUSA FRANCIS KWIYUUCWINY GRACE KIZIGE MOSES GALABUZI DENNIS SSOZI AKIROR AGNES KIIZA ERNEST |
Ministry of Public Service
| KARUBANGADAVID |
Ministry of East African Affairs
| MAGANDA JULIUS WANDERA |
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister of State for Fisheries Minister of State for Animal Industry | KIBAZANGA CHRISTOPHER ACHIENG RUTH MRS KABATSI JOY |
Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs
| COL ENGOLA MAJOR RWAMIRAMA BRIGHT |
Ministry of Education and Sports Minister of State for Primary Education Minister of State for Sports | DR MUYINGO JOHN CHRYSOSTOM NANSUBUGA ROSEMARY SENINDE BAKABULINDI CHARLES |
Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development Minister of State for Minerals | D’UJANGA SIMON LOKERIS AIMAT PETER |
Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Development Minister of State for Planning Minister of State for Privatisation and Investment Minister of State for Micro-Finance | AJEDRA GABRIEL GADISON ARIDRU BAHATI DAVID ANITE EVELYN KYEYUNE HARUNA KASOLO |
Ministry of Works and Transport
| BAGIIRE AGGREY OROT ISMAEL |
Ministry of Water and Environment
| KIBUULE RONALD KITUTU MARY |
Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Minister of State for Urban Development Minister of State for Lands | DR BARYOMUNSI CHRIS MUSUMBA ISAAC NAMUGANZA PERSIS |
Ministry of Health
| OPENDI OCHIENT SARAH DR MORIKU JOYCE |
Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
| MWESIGWA RUKUTANA |
Ministry of Trade and Industry and Cooperatives Minister of State for Industry Minister of State for Cooperatives Kampala Capital City Authority | KAFABUSA WERIKHE MICHEAL NTABAZI HARRIET GUME FREDRICK NGOBI NAMUGWANYA BENNA |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of State for Regional Affairs | ORYEM OKELLO DR MATEKE PHELEMON |
Ministry of Local Government
| NAMUYANGU JENNIFFER |
Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities
| KIWANDA GODFREY |
Ministry of ICT
| NANTABA AIDA ERIOS |
Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development
| MADAME MUTUUZO PEACE MRS NAKIWALA FLORCENCE KIYINGI KABAFUNZAKI HERBERT MRS TIBALEKA |
Ministry of Internal Affairs
| OBIGA KANIA |