HORIDIAN NEWS

The omission of former Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua from Cabinet, despite his appointment as a Senior Presidential Advisor, is also expected to generate immediate political debate.

By Denish Ongora

KAMPALA, May 26, 2026 — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has unveiled a new Cabinet marked by major changes at the heart of government, dropping former Gender Minister Betty Amongi from the ministerial line-up and transferring former Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng to head the Ministry of Information, Communications Technology and National Guidance.

The omission of former Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua from Cabinet, despite his appointment as a Senior Presidential Advisor, is also expected to generate immediate political debate.

The reshuffle retains Jessica Alupo as Vice President and Robinah Nabbanja as Prime Minister while bringing in several new faces, including businessman Sanjay Tanna as Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives and first-term Alebtong Woman MP Mercy Faith Lakisa as Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, as well as UPC’s Sandra Santa Alum (Woman MP Oyam district), Economic Monitoring — in the office of the president.

Full Cabinet Appointments

Presidency

Position	Appointee
Vice President	Jessica Rose Epel Alupo
Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business	Robinah Nabbanja
1st Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for East African Community Affairs	Rebecca Kadaga
2nd Deputy Prime Minister & Deputy Leader of Government Business	Dr Crispus Walter Kiyonga
3rd Deputy Prime Minister & Minister without Portfolio	Lukia Nakadama

Cabinet Ministers

Ministry/Office	Appointee
Education and Sports	Janet Kataaha Museveni
Presidency	Milly Babirye Babalanda
Security	Jim Muhwezi
Science, Technology and Innovation	Eng. Jonard Asiimwe
Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs	Minsa Kabanda
Prime Minister’s Office (General Duties)	Hillary Onek
Government Chief Whip	Justine Kasule Lumumba
Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees	Sam Engola
Karamoja Affairs	John Baptist Lokii
Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries	Frank Tumwebaze
Attorney General	Sam Mayanja
Defence and Veteran Affairs	Kiryowa Kiwanuka
Energy and Mineral Development	Dr Monica Musenero Musanza
Finance, Planning and Economic Development	Henry Musasizi
Foreign Affairs	Ambassador Adonia Ayebare
Gender, Labour and Social Development	Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde Kakurugu
Health	Dr Chris Baryomunsi
Information, ICT and National Guidance	Dr Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero
Internal Affairs	Prof Ephraim Kamuntu
Justice and Constitutional Affairs	Norbert Mao
Lands, Housing and Urban Development	Judith Nabakooba
Local Government	Balaam Barugahara
Public Service	Gen Katumba Wamala
Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities	Tom Butime
Trade, Industry and Cooperatives	Sanjay Tanna
Water and Environment	Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire
Works and Transport	Fred Byamukama

Ministers of State

Office of the President

• Economic Monitoring — Sandra Santa Alum
• Ethics and Integrity — Rose Akello

Office of the Vice President

• Diana Mutasingwa Nankunda

Office of the Prime Minister

• Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees — Lillian Aber
• Northern Uganda — Beatrice Akello
• Karamoja Affairs — Esther Anyakun Davinia
• Luwero Triangle/Rwenzori Region — Alice Kaboyo
• Bunyoro Affairs — Grace Mary Mugasa
• Teso Affairs — Dr Ongalo Obote

Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries

• Agriculture — Desire Muhooza
• Animal Industry — Bright Rwamirama
• Fisheries — Robert Migadde Ndugwa

Justice and Constitutional Affairs

• Deputy Attorney General — Jackson Kafuuzi

Defence and Veteran Affairs

• Defence — Grace Akifeza Ngabirano
• Veteran Affairs — Huda Oleru

East African Affairs

• Ikuya Magode

Education and Sports

• Higher Education — Dr John Chrysostom Muyingo
• Primary Education — Phyllis Chemutai
• Sports — Peter Ogwang

Energy and Mineral Development

• Energy — Sidronius Okasai Opolot
• Minerals — Phiona Nyamutooro

Finance, Planning and Economic Development

• General Duties — Cissy Mulondo
• Planning — Amos Lugoloobi
• Privatization and Investment — Amina Mukalazi
• Microfinance — Shartsi Kutesa Musherure

Foreign Affairs

• International Affairs — Calvin Echodu
• Regional Affairs — Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune

Gender, Labour and Social Development

• Gender and Culture — Mary Kamuli Kuteesa
• Youth and Children Affairs — Mercy Faith Lakisa
• Employment and Industrial Relations — Simon Mulongo
• Disability Affairs — Joyce Okeny Acan
• Elderly Affairs — Jacqueline Mbabazi

Health

• General Duties — Anifa Bangirana Kawooya
• Primary Health Care — Dr Charles Ayume

Information, ICT and National Guidance

• Information — Joyce Ssebuggwawo
• National Guidance — Yorke Odria Alioni

Internal Affairs

• Dr Lawrence Muganga

Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs

• Kabuye Kyofatogabye

Lands, Housing and Urban Development

• Housing — Persis Namuganza
• Urban Development — Margaret Muhanga Mugisa
• Lands — Harriet Ntabazi

Local Government

• Justine Nameere

Public Service

• Lydia Wanyoto Mutende

Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities

• Susan Nakawuki Nsambu

Trade, Industry and Cooperatives

• Cooperatives — Tom Aza
• Industry — David Bahati
• Trade — Gen Wilson Mbadi

Water and Environment

• Environment — Beatrice Anywar
• Water — Aisha Sekkindi

Works and Transport

• Works — Siraji Musa Ali
• Transport — Julius Maganda Wandera

Senior Presidential Advisors

Museveni also appointed the following former ministers as Senior Presidential Advisors:

• Hamson Obua
• Ruth Nankabirwa
• Francis Mwebesa
• Evelyn Anite

In another notable move, Dr Kenneth Omona was removed from Cabinet and transferred to the diplomatic service as an ambassador-designate, with his posting to be announced later.

The exclusion of Betty Amongi, alongside the redeployment of Aceng to ICT, the return of Sam Engola to Cabinet, the appointment of newcomer Mercy Faith Lakisa, and the removal of Hamson Obua from the Cabinet front bench are likely to dominate political discussion as Uganda digests Museveni’s latest government line-up.