Museveni names Cabinet, appoints wife to Education ministry
President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni during election campaign in Kololo. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
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.
Since 2009, Mrs Museveni served as a deputy minister in the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs before being elevated to full minister in 2011.
Museveni looked to inject fresh blood in his government that has seen him dropped 35 ministers and state ministers.
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.
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:
Minister of State Vice President’s Office
ONZIMA ALEX
Office of the Prime Minister: Minister of State for Relief and Disaster Preparedness
Minister of State for Northern Uganda
Minister of State for Karamoja Minister of State for Luwero Triangle
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
Minister of State for Public Service
KARUBANGADAVID
Ministry of East African Affairs
Minister of State for East African Affairs
MAGANDA JULIUS WANDERA
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister of State for Agriculture
Minister of State for Fisheries
Minister of State for Animal Industry
KIBAZANGA CHRISTOPHER
ACHIENG RUTH
MRS KABATSI JOY
Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs
Minister of State for Defence Minister of State for Veteran Affairs
COL ENGOLA
MAJOR RWAMIRAMA BRIGHT
Ministry of Education and Sports Minister of State for Higher Education
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 Energy
Minister of State for Minerals
D’UJANGA SIMON
LOKERIS AIMAT PETER
Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Development Minister of State for Finance (General)
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
Minister of State for Transport Minister of State for Works
BAGIIRE AGGREY
OROT ISMAEL
Ministry of Water and Environment
Minister of State for Water Minister of State for Environment
KIBUULE RONALD
KITUTU MARY
Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Minister of State for Housing
Minister of State for Urban Development
Minister of State for Lands
DR BARYOMUNSI CHRIS
MUSUMBA ISAAC
NAMUGANZA PERSIS
Ministry of Health
Minister of State for Health (General) Minister of State for Primary Health Care
OPENDI OCHIENT SARAH
DR MORIKU JOYCE
Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
Deputy Attorney General
MWESIGWA RUKUTANA
Ministry of Trade and Industry and Cooperatives Minister of State for Trade
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 International Affairs
Minister of State for Regional Affairs
ORYEM OKELLO
DR MATEKE PHELEMON
Ministry of Local Government
Minister of State for Local Government
NAMUYANGU JENNIFFER
Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities
Minister of State for Tourism
KIWANDA GODFREY
Ministry of ICT
Minister of State for ICT and Communications
NANTABA AIDA ERIOS
Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development
Minister of State for Gender and Culture Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations Minister of State for the Elderly and Disability
