President Museveni’s Most Recycled Ministers

On January 13^th, President Yoweri Museveni swore in his new cabinet, following a jaw dropping December 2019 reshuffle that saw up to nine fresh faces coming in.

The new cabinet hit the ground running, having to immediately tackle a number of emergencies including the locust invasion in Northern Uganda, the Coronavirus crisis, the impasse on the new lower secondary curriculum, and even a censure motion by parliament against one of the ministers.

But as the cabinet settles in; did you know there are some Ministers in Museveni’s government that have been to the same ministry twice, thrice or even more?

Did you ever imagine one Minister in the same ministry for over 15 years?

Today we bring you a list of such Ministers whose deployment over the years is worth noting.

Kirunda Kivejinja

The veteran regime historical has definitely got a place among the most used Ministers for Museveni. He has been in cabinet since 1986, being appointed to various ministries on top of other assignments.

In 1986 -1987, he was the Minister of Rehabilitation.

In 1987 -88, he was deployed at the Ministry of Transport and Communication.

From 1988-1989, Kivejinja was again appointed Minister of Information.

Between 1991 to 94, Kivejinja headed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In 1994, the new reshuffle saw him return at the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication, only to be moved to Minister without portfolio the following year.

He served in his new capacity for one year (1996-97) and was again redeployed as Director of External Relations in 1998, a position he held up to 2001.

In 2001, he was named Deputy National Political Commissar and Director Foreign Affairs Untill 2003.

Kirunda was later named Minister for the Presidency between 2003 and 2004.

Between 2006 and 2008, he was 3rd Deputy Premier and Minister of Information and National Guidance.

He was appointed Senior Presidential Advisor in charge of veteran affairs from 2015 to date.

Between 2016 and 2019, he was 2nd Deputy Premier and Minister for East African Affairs.

In the recent reshuffle, he was retained as second Deputy Premier and also redeployed as Minister without Portfolio, a position he has held before.

Kahinda Otafire

This 69-year-old is also perennial in cabinet.

While handing over to the then incoming Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affair, Dr Ephraim Kamuntu; Otafiire boasted that the only time he wasn’t in cabinet was when he was terrorising rebels in Congo. And his profile:

1986-88; Minister of State for Internal Affairs.

1988-92; Presidential Assistant in charge of Security.

1992-94; Director External Security Organisation.

1994-95; Delegate at the Consultative Assembly(CA).

1994-96; Minister of State for Security

1996-98; Minister for Security

1996-2001; Army Representative to Parliament and also led a Military expedition in DR Congo.

2001-2003; State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation.

2003-2006; Minister for Water, Lands and Environment.

2006-2009; Local Government Minister

2009-2011; Tourism, Trade and Industry.

2011-2019; Justice and Constitutional Affairs. It’s also the ministry where he has served longest.

2019-todate; East African Community Affairs.

Ruhakana Rugunda

1986-88; Minister of Health

1988-94 Works, Transport and Communication.

1994 -96; Foreign affairs.

1996-98; Ministry of Information

1998-2001; Minister for the Presidency.

2001-2003; Water, Lands and Environment.

2003-2009; Internal Affairs

2009-2010; President of the UN Security Council.

2009-2011; Permanent Representative to the UN and Member of the Security Council.

2013-2014; Minister of Health.

2014 to date; Prime Minister.

John Nasasira

1989-91; Minister of State for Woks.

91-94; Presidential Advisor on Public Relations.

1992-94; Works Transport and communication.

1994-95; State Minister for Agriculture, CA Delegate.

1995-96; Agriculture, Animal husbandry and Fisheries.

1996-2006; He is the longest serving Minister at the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication.

2011-2013; Government Chief Whip.

2013-2016; Minister of Information and Communication Technology.

 

Crispus Kiyonga

Kiyonga had been a Member of Parliament from 1980 until 2016 when he was voted out. He is also one of the longest serving Ministers and allies to President Museveni.

In 1986, he was Minister for Cooperatives and Marketing.

1987-1990; Minister of Finance. He is credited for the establishment of the tax body – URA during this particular tenure at the Ministry.

1994-96; Minister of Internal Affairs.

1996-2001; Minister of Health. He is remembered for the efficient handling of the Ebola in Gulu in 2000 and Chairing the Global Fund.

2001-2006; Minister without Portfolio and National Political Commissar.

2006-2016; Minister of Defence.

He is the current Ugandan Ambassador to Beijing since 2016.

Between 1992 and 94, Kiyonga left government briefly to serve a Consultant with World Bank and African Development Bank. He returned to participate in the 1994 elections for the CA representatives and was elected.

John Patrick Amama Mbabazi

Despite falling out with his political Ally a few years ago, Mbabazi remains one of the most thought after names in the history books of the current regime. He served in various capacities

1986-92; State Minister for Defence.

1998-2001; State Minister for Regional Cooperation.

2004-2006; Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

2006-2009; Minister of Defence.

2009-2011; Minister of Security.

2011-2015; Prime Minister.

2005-2015; National Resistance Movement Secretary General.

 

Okello Oryem

Oryem is the son of former President General Tito Okello Lutwa, who President Museveni deposed to come to power himself.

Though he has not been to many ministries before, Oryem is the longest serving Minister in the history of the NRM government in one particular ministry. He has been the State Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2004 up to date.

Schooled in Tanzania for his Primary and Secondary education, Oryem joined Stafford House College and University of Buckingham and Southampton University. He returned and Contested for Mp in 2001 and won.

He was appointed Minister of State for Sports in 2001 and held the position up to 2004.

He was then deployed at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where he has been up to date.

Jeje Odongo

The veteran combatant is unquestionably one of the pillars of the regime as his profile attests to the same.

1994-95; CA delegate representing the army.

1996; UPDF Political Commissar.

1996-98; Minister of Defence and also Member of Parliament for Amuria.

1998, resigned his parliamentary seat and took over as Army Commander until 2001.

2001-2004; Minister without Portfolio.

2005-2009; Minister of State for Environment.

In February 2009, he was promoted to the rank of General and also appointed Minister of State for Defence, a position he occupied until June 2016 when he was moved to the Ministry of Internal Affairs which he occupies currently.

 

Gibert Balibaseka Bukenya

Though not used perennially like many of his colleagues on the list, Bukenya held positions of great significance in the regime, which makes it only natural that he appears among them too.

1996-2011; MP Busiro North.

2000-2001; State Minister for Trade.

2001-2003; Minister for The Presidency.

2003-2011; Vice President. He also fell out with the President for the same reasons as his comrade – Amama Mbabazi but later made peace but the damage of trust was beyond repair and was dropped from cabinet ever since.

He unsuccessfully attempted to return to Parliament in 2016. He has since maintained a very low profile.

Sam Kahamba Kutesa

Like Oryem, Kuteesa has also been at the Ministry of Foreign affairs for a record uninterrupted 15 years.

He represented Mawogola North in the 1995 delegates conference. In 2001, he was made Minister of investment, holding the position until 2005.

Following the death of the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, James Wapakhabulo, Kutesa was appointed to replace him. He has held the office up to date.

Tom Butime

1987; Special District administrator

1988-90; Deputy Minister of Lands and Survey.

1990-96; State Minister for internal affairs.

2019 to date, Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities.

Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga

1996-98; Minister of State for Regional Cooperation.

1998-99; State Minister for works.

1999-2001; Minister for Parliamentary affairs.

2001- 2006; Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

2006-2011; Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

2011-2016; Speaker of Parliament.

2016 to date; Speaker of Parliament.

Bart Katurebe

1988-91; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation.

1991-92; State Minister for Industry and Technology.

1992-97; State Minister for Health.

1996-2001; Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

2015 to sate: Chief Justice

Also was a CA delegate for Bunyaruguru in Bushenyi.

 

Isaac Isanga Musumba

The Buzaaya Member of Parliament in Kamuli District is also one of the long serving Ministers in the Museveni Government.

As a younger politician, Musumba made it to the CA in 1994 and was elected to Parliament the year after CA. His reign was briefly interrupted in 2011 when former District Councillor, Mr Muzaale Martin defeated him. He however reinforced his troops for a successful come back in 2016 and made it once again.

1994-95; CA delegate.

2001-2006; Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development.

2006-2011; State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation.

2012-2015; Chairman Uganda Registration Services Bureau.

2016 to date; State Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development.

 

Ruth Nankabirwa

The Kiboga golden girl as made some remarkable strides politically since making it to Parliament as a young girl 24 years ago.

She had also been a CA delegate in1994/95. Since then, she has held a multiplicity of ministerial position and her cordial relationship within the party suggests that a lot is yet to come.

1994-95; CA Delegate.

1998-2001; Minister for Luwero Triangle in the Prime Minister’s Office.

2001-2008; State Minister for Defence.

2008-2011; State for Finance planning and Economic Development.

2016 to date; Government Chief Whip.

Hillary Onek

2006-2009; Agriculture Fisheries and Animal Husbandry.

2009-2011; Minister for Energy and Mineral Development.

2011-2013; Minister of Internal Affairs.

2013 to date; Disaster, Relief and Refugees (Prime Minister’s Office)