NEWS ANALYSIS: President Yoweri Museveni has dropped 38 ministers in the new cabinet that was announced on Tuesday evening.
With the appointment of Katakwi Woman MP Jessica Alupo as Vice President, this means the former who held this position Rt. Hon. Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi makes no return in the cabinet while Ndugu Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda has been replaced with Kakumiro Woman MP Hon. Robinah Nabbanja as the Prime Minister and leader of Government Business in parliament.
Dr. Rugunda has since been appointed the new NRM Secretary General, replacing Kasule Lumumba who is now the Minister of General Duties.
Prior to these appointments, Nabbanja served as state minister for Health (General Duties) while Alupo served as minister for Education and Sports from 2011 to 2016 before losing her parliamentary seat, only to bounce back as an independent candidate in the 2021 general polls.
A deeper analysis of the new cabinet shows that Museveni dropped 13 cabinet ministers and 25 state ministers, who previously served in the 2016-2021 government.
Among the dropped cabinet ministers include; Former Trade Minister Hon. Amelia Kyambadde Anne, Hon. Sam Kahamba Kutesa formerly Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Kamya Beti as State Minister for Lands, Prof. Kamuntu Ephraim as Deputy Prime Minister, Mwesige Adolf.
Others on the list of dropped ministers are; Eng. Byabagambi John, Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye, Mary Karooro Okurut, Mbayo Esther, Attorney William Byaruhanga, and Security Minister Gen. Tumwine Elly.
The state ministers who have been dropped are; Kamukama Molly Nawe, Rev. Fr. Lokodo Simon, Dr Kasirivu Baltazar Atwooki, Kizige Moses, Galabuzi Dennis Ssozi, Akiror Agnes, Kiiza Ernest, Karubanga David, Maganda Julius Wandera, Bagiire Aggrey, Mbalibulha Christopher Kibazanga, Nansubuga Rosemary Seninde, Eng. D’Ujanga Simon.
Others are; Opendi Sarah Achieng, Ajedra Gabriel Gadison Aridru, Kabatsi Joy, Kibuule Ronald, Musumba Isaac, Werikhe Michael Kafabusa, Namugwanya Benny, Dr. Mateke Philemon, Kiwanda Godfrey, Nakiwala Florence Kiyingi, Mwesigwa Rukutana, and Kanyike Sarah.
While addressing the NRM caucus on Monday, President Museveni hinted on maintaining the same cabinet ministers with one additional state minister (Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (Industry).
This ministerial position fell vacant after the Parliamentary Appointments committee in 2016 declined to approve the appointment of ex-officio Harriet Ntabazi for reasons that among others included non-registration as a national voter. Ntabazi has been renamed in the new cabinet list.
The new cabinet has seen more women being empowered and elevated to ministerial positions as compared to previous cabinets, am implication that the women gender has been uplifted in the new appointments.
The new cabinet list features a total of 35 ministers who are women as compared to 26 ministers in the 2011-2016 government.
Additionally, all the top three ministerial positions have been given to women; Vice President (Alupo), Prime Minister (Nabbanja), and 1st Deputy Prime Minister (Kadaga).
All the ministerial appointees will be vetted by the Appointments Committee headed by Speaker Jacob Oulanyah next week.
The new Vice President and Prime Minister will be approved by parliament through a simple majority vote on Thursday, according to the Clerk to Parliament.
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