Kampala, Uganda: President Museveni’s newly unveiled 2026–2031 Cabinet has sidelined several senior and long-serving ministers who featured prominently in the previous administration, signalling a major political shake-up as the ruling National Resistance Movement begins a new term in office.
A comparison between the outgoing 2021–2026 Cabinet and the new executive lineup released on Tuesday shows that several veteran ministers, technocrats and political heavyweights either failed to return to Cabinet entirely or were moved into advisory and diplomatic roles.
Among the biggest casualties are former Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, veteran statesman Moses Ali and former Foreign Affairs Minister Jeje Odongo.
MATIA KASAIJA
Kasaija exits Cabinet after serving as Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development since 2015, overseeing Uganda’s economy through periods of debt expansion, COVID-19 recovery and infrastructure financing.
The Buyanja County legislator remains an elected Member of Parliament and is expected to continue participating in parliamentary business from the backbench, where his long experience in economic matters could still influence debate within the ruling NRM caucus.
GEN MOSES ALI
The veteran politician and former Second Deputy Prime Minister is another major omission from the new Cabinet lineup.
For over a number of decades in public service, Gen Moses Ali, 87, has been one of Uganda’s longest-serving political figures, previously serving in various governments before and after the NRM takeover in 1986.
Although he has been dropped from Cabinet, the Adjumani West MP remains in Parliament and is expected to continue serving as a senior political elder and influential figure within West Nile politics.
GEN JEJE ODONGO
Gen Jeje Odongo exits Cabinet after serving as Foreign Affairs Minister and previously holding powerful security portfolios, including Internal Affairs and Defence.
A retired army officer and long-time Museveni ally, Gen Odongo has remained one of the government’s most influential security and diplomatic figures for decades.
The former Kumi District legislator is expected to remain active within the ruling establishment despite leaving frontline Cabinet politics.
GEN DAVID MUHOOZI
Formerly State Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen David Muhoozi, is among the notable figures dropped from the new Cabinet.
The ex-Chief of Defence Forces had transitioned from military command into government leadership and was seen as one of the security-linked figures within the outgoing administration.
Although out of Cabinet, Muhoozi remains influential within security and NRM circles and is expected to continue playing a strategic role in national affairs.
CANON RUTH NANKABIRWA
Former Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa did not return to Cabinet but was instead appointed Senior Presidential Advisor.
Nankabirwa has served in multiple governments over the years and previously held the Government Chief Whip position. Her reassignment suggests Museveni still values her political mobilization experience despite her exit from the executive.
FRANCIS MWEBESA
Former Trade Minister Francis Mwebesa was also dropped from Cabinet and transferred to the role of Senior Presidential Advisor.
Mwebesa represented the government at a time when Uganda was pushing industrialisation and regional trade expansion under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
EVELYN ANITE
Former State Minister for Privatization Evelyn Anite also lost her Cabinet position and was reassigned as Senior Presidential Advisor.
Anite rose to national prominence as one of Museveni’s fiercest political mobilisers and defenders during previous election cycles, inking the trademark name “We have the support of the majje” in defence of Museveni’s political plays.
The former Koboko Municipality MP is expected to remain active in NRM mobilization structures as a Presidential Advisor.
BETTY AMONGI
Former Gender Minister Betty Amongi is another high-profile minister who failed to make the new Cabinet list.
Amongi, who also previously served in the Lands ministry, will await a new deployment, if any, having lost her legislative position when ICT Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng won her in Lira City Woman MP race.
MUSA ECWERU
Former State Minister for Works Musa Ecweru also failed to return to the Cabinet after years serving in various ministries under Museveni’s government.
The former Amuria County MP has previously handled relief, disaster preparedness and transport-related assignments and remains an experienced mobiliser within the ruling party.
JOHN MULIMBA
Former State Minister for Foreign Affairs (Regional Affairs) John Mulimba was also left out of the new executive lineup.
Mulimba, who represents Samia Bugwe North, had been one of the government’s emerging diplomatic and regional integration figures.
He now returns fully to parliamentary duties where he is expected to remain active on regional affairs and foreign policy debates.
GODFREY KABBYANGA
Former State Minister for National Guidance Godfrey Kabbyanga is another casualty of the reshuffle.
Kabbyanga had become one of the more visible government communicators during the 11th Parliament, particularly on political mobilisation and public messaging. He will be replaced by Yorke Odria Alioni.
HENRY OKELLO ORYEM
Veteran diplomat and former State Minister for Foreign Affairs (International Affairs) Henry Okello Oryem also missed out on the new Cabinet.
Oryem served in Uganda’s Foreign Affairs ministry for over a decade and became one of the country’s longest-serving diplomatic faces internationally. His place is taken up by Soroti City West MP, David Calvin Echodu.
PEACE MUTUUZO
Former State Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development, Peace Mutuuzo, was also dropped from Cabinet.
Mutuuzo, who served as Woman MP for Bunyangabu District until recently, had been active in government programmes focused on gender, children and cultural affairs.
RAPHAEL MAGYEZI
Former Local Government Minister Raphael Magyezi, widely known for spearheading the constitutional amendment removing the presidential age limit, also missed out on the new Cabinet.
SAM CHEPTORIS
Former Water and Environment Minister Sam Cheptoris was dropped as Museveni handed the docket to Kahinda Otafiire.
PETER LOKERIS
Veteran Karamoja Affairs Minister Peter Lokeris also exits Cabinet after years of handling Karamoja-related government programmes.
HAMSON OBUA
Former Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua was moved out of Cabinet and named Senior Presidential Advisor.
Obua, who represented Ajuri County until recently when he lost the seat, had become one of the government’s key parliamentary mobilisers in the 11th Parliament. He now transitions into a less active role of being an advisor to the president.
KENNETH OMONA
Former Minister for Northern Uganda Kenneth Omona did not return to Cabinet after being transferred to the diplomatic service. State House indicated that he will be appointed ambassador at a station to be communicated later.
WILSON MURULI MUKASA
Former Public Service Minister Wilson Muruli Mukasa also failed to return to Cabinet after serving in one of government’s key administrative ministries.
A Political Reset Button?
The latest Cabinet reshuffle appears to reflect Museveni’s attempt to gradually phase out some older political figures while simultaneously rewarding loyal cadres, technocrats and emerging allies.
While some ministers were completely dropped, others were strategically moved into advisory or diplomatic assignments, suggesting that the President still intends to retain their political influence within the broader state structure.
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