19 Ministers Sworn in as Ex Officio MPs
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19 Ministers Sworn in as Ex Officio MPs

Nineteen newly appointed ministers have taken the oath as ex officio Members of Parliament, paving the way for them to participate in parliamentary proceedings and fully discharge their executive responsibilities. 

The ministers took both the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Member of Parliament during a plenary sitting on Wednesday presided over by Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth. Their swearing-in follows the Cabinet reshuffle announced by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on May 26, 2026, and their subsequent vetting and approval by Parliament’s Appointments Committee. 

According to a communication from the Clerk to Parliament, ministers appointed from outside Parliament are required by law to become ex officio members before assuming their full constitutional responsibilities. The requirement is provided for under Article 78(1)(d) of the Constitution of Uganda, which recognises ex officio members of Parliament, while Article 81 requires such members to take the prescribed oath before assuming office. 

Those sworn in include Attorney General Dr Samuel Mayanja, Minister for Information, Communications Technology and National Guidance, Justine Kasule Lumumba, Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, David Bahati, Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Tom Butime, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister for Luweero Triangle and Rwenzori Region, Alice Kaboyo, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Dr Monica Musenero, and Minister of State for Water and Environment, Beatrice Atim Anywar. 

Others sworn in were State Minister for Trade Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, State Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (General Duties) Cissy Mulondo, State Minister for Higher Education Dr John Chrysostom Muyingo, Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs Kiryowa Kiwanuka, Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Sanjay Tana, and State Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development (Employment and Industrial Relations) Simon Mulongo. 

Also taking the oath were State Minister for Public Service Grace Mary Mugasa, Minister of Local Government Balaam Barugahara, State Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (Privatisation) Hajjat Aminah Mukalazi, and Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Eng. Jonard Asiimwe, and State Minister for East African Community Affairs James Magode Ikuya. 

Speaker Oboth-Oboth welcomed the ministers to Parliament and reminded them of their dual responsibility to both the Executive and the Legislature. The swearing-in comes just days after President Museveni presided over a larger ministerial oath-taking ceremony at State House Entebbe, where 78 ministers formally assumed office following parliamentary approval. 

Although ex officio members are not elected representatives, they play a critical role in Uganda’s parliamentary system. The Constitution allows certain office holders, particularly ministers appointed from outside Parliament, to participate in parliamentary business, strengthening coordination between the Executive and the Legislature. However, unlike elected Members of Parliament, ex officio members do not have voting rights on matters before the House. 

Their swearing-in marks the beginning of what is expected to be an intense period of parliamentary engagement as the government seeks to address mounting public concerns over service delivery, youth unemployment, healthcare financing, infrastructure development, industrialisation, and the implementation of the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV).

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