Government swears in 78 ministers as police caution on UNEB fees misuse

9 June 2026, 10:01 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

Following the successful vetting of ministerial appointees by Parliament last week, as required under the Fourth Schedule of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, at least 78 officials today took the Oaths of Office and Secrecy at State House Entebbe.

The swearing-in ceremony was presided over by President Yoweri Museveni, with the officials set to immediately assume their respective responsibilities in accordance with the law.

The first to take the oath was Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo Epel, followed by Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja and her deputies, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, Rt. Hon. Crispus Kiyonga, and Rt. Hon. Lukia Nakadama.

Other officials sworn in included Hon. John Chrysostom Muyingo, Minister of State for Higher Education; Hon. Aisha Ssekindi, Minister of State for Water; Hon. Norbert Mao, Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs; and Hon. Phyllis Chemutai, Minister of State for Primary Education, among others.

However, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, was not among those vetted. Also absent from the swearing-in ceremony was Dr. Lawrence Muganga, the State Minister-designate for Internal Affairs.

According to the Secretary to Cabinet, Ms Lucy Nakyobe, government will in due course communicate the status of the remaining ministerial nominees who did not take the oath. These include Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs; Dr Lawrence Muganga, State Minister-designate for Internal Affairs; Calvin Echodu, State Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs (International Affairs); and Shartsi Kutesa Musherure, State Minister-designate for Finance (Microfinance).

Under the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control Act, individuals holding dual citizenship are restricted from serving in certain senior government positions. While some nominees indicated that they had initiated the process of renouncing their foreign citizenship, they were barred from taking the oath pending final clearance and verification by the relevant authorities.

Meanwhile, the Uganda Police Force has warned school administrators against the misappropriation of registration fees collected from candidates for the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB).

Speaking during the weekly police press briefing at Police Headquarters in Naguru, Kampala, Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner of Police Rusoke Kituuma said administrators who collect registration fees but fail to register candidates or abscond with the funds will face arrest and prosecution.

“We are tired of cases where school administrators misuse UNEB registration fees. We want to remind them that whoever engages in such acts will be arrested and prosecuted,” Kituuma said.