Who are the new faces in Museveni’s cabinet?

President Museveni on Saturday evening shuffled his cabinet, dropping some ministers, retaining others whereas some have been elevated.

“In exercise of the powers vested in the President by Articles 99(1), 108(2), 108A(1), 113(1) and 114(1) of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has, in pursuance of the goals of the NRM and Ugandans in general, made minor changes to the Cabinet,” read in part the message announcing the changes.

The Nile Post, however, looks at the new faces in the new cabinet announced on Saturday evening.

Beatrice Anywar

The Woman MP for Kitgum once regarded as one of the most vocal critics of the president has for some time been regarded with suspicion in the opposition for always hobnobbing with President Museveni, despite insisting on being an FDC MP.

Anywar, a former Museveni critic who led protests against the giveaway of part of Mabira forest in 2008 for which she earned the moniker “Mama Mabira”, has lately become a key point person for the president.

A seasoned politician, Anywar denounced the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in the run up to the 2016 elections, briefly embraced Amama Mbabazi’s Go Forward before finally gravitating towards Museveni and the NRM.

She has also served as vice-chairperson of the committee on Gender, Labour and Social Development, a position she was seconded to by the NRM in 2016.

She has been named the new minister of state for Environment.

Judith Nabakooba

Born Judith Nalule Nabakooba, the 42-year-old served as Police spokesperson before leaving the force at the rank of Commissioner.

In 2016, Nabakooba joined parliament on the ruling NRM party ticket and has since then been loyal to the party and was among those vocal MPs in support of the lifting of the age limit.

The Mityana district Woman MP who recently served as the chairperson for the parliamentary committee on defence and internal affairs is now the new Minister for Information Communication and Technology.

Raphael Magyezi

When one talks about the age limit bill, the first thing that comes to mind is Raphael Magyezi for his role in ensuring the bill sees the light of the day.

The Igara County West MP was hated and loved in equal measures by the opposition and the ruling NRM legislators for moving the age limit removal motion on the floor of Parliament, a move that brought him to prominence.

The current chairperson of the committee on public service and local government has been rewarded by being appointed Minister for Local Government to replace Tom Butime who has been sent to another ministry.

Molly Kamukama

To most Ugandans, her inclusion on the new list of ministers is a surprise but to those who are close to corridors of power, Kamukama’s time as the Principal Private Secretary to President Museveni was up a long time ago.

There have been negative reports on how she mismanaged her office as PPS and that these reports had reached Museveni’s desk.

Prior to being appointed as PPS, Kamukama served as a political assistant in the office of the NRM chairperson and now has been appointed as State Minister for Finance in charge of Economic Planning.

Others are Hamson Obua( State Minister for Sports), Kenneth Omona(Principal Private Secretary), Robbinah Nabbanja(State Minister for Health in charge of general duties), Hellen Adoa(State Minister for Fisheries).