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The 2021–2026 cabinet has concluded its term, with ministers directed to hand over their offices to permanent secretaries following their final meeting on Monday.
President Yoweri Museveni thanked the outgoing ministers for what he described as a job well done. This was the cabinet he once referred to as “fishmongers” at the time of their appointment.
In using that description, Museveni appeared to temper public expectations, suggesting the team was not drawn from the traditional pool of elite political heavyweights. The characterisation, however, did not come unprompted.
The composition of the cabinet had surprised both the public and some of the appointees themselves. From Jesca Alupo, who had just returned as Katakwi Woman MP after five years out of office, being appointed Vice President, to Robinah Nabbanja, Kakumiro Woman MP, being named Prime Minister, the selections sparked widespread debate.
“Did the President release the wrong list?” many wondered at the time.
Few expected the team to last the full five-year term, not only because of the unconventional appointments to positions once held by seasoned figures such as Amama Mbabazi, Prof. Apollo Nsibambi and Samson Kisekka, but also due to the precedent of frequent midterm cabinet reshuffles.
In the end, only two ministers, Agnes Nandutu and Mary Goretti Kitutu, both from the Karamoja affairs docket were dropped, following their implication in the diversion of iron sheets meant for vulnerable communities in the sub-region.
The iron sheets scandal has come to define the 2021-2026 Cabinet, with a significant number of ministers implicated. However, only Nandutu was successfully prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to four years’ imprisonment at Luzira Prison.
For Museveni, the cabinet’s legacy will also be tied to Uganda’s progression towards middle-income status, an assertion that remains contested, including by the World Bank.
Museveni poses for pictures with his outgoing cabinet
According to a statement from the State House Presidential Press Unit, Museveni hosted a luncheon at State House, Entebbe, in honour of the outgoing ministers. In what may have been his final address to some of them in that capacity, he commended their “collective effort, discipline and commitment” in advancing the country’s development agenda.
“The President also acknowledged the team’s role in the recent electoral process, describing the outcome as a collective achievement, while expressing confidence in continued economic growth in the coming term,” the statement said in part.
He further urged the ministers to renew their commitment to “integrity, accountability and patriotism in public service.”
Yet beneath the formal send-off lies growing anxiety. Many ministers are now waiting to see whether they will make it into the next cabinet. Unlike the 2021 general election, which saw a wave of ministerial losses, particularly in Buganda region, this time only a handful failed to retain their parliamentary seats.
Museveni has historically dropped ministers who lose elections, rarely reappointing them. With his next swearing-in set for May 12, extending his tenure to 45 years if completed in 2031, uncertainty is mounting among outgoing ministers over their political futures.
In recent months, lobbying for cabinet positions has intensified. Individuals perceived to have the President’s ear have become increasingly influential. During the recent 52nd birthday celebrations of Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and the President’s son, many aspirants seeking cabinet positions made visible appearances.
Those unable to attend reportedly contributed financially, purchasing running kits worth millions of shillings in a show of allegiance. The 2026-2031 term has widely been framed as a potential transition period.
After nearly 45 years in power, there is growing speculation that Museveni could name a successor. For many political actors, securing a place in the next cabinet is seen as key to being close to that decision, if and when it is made.
Related
, https://observer.ug/news/fishmongers-cabinet-winds-down-with-mabati-theft-taint/
