By Joseph Kiggundu
KAMPALA. President Museveni has announced new changes in Uganda’s public service, retiring eleven high-ranking Permanent Secretaries.
Those retired include; long-serving public servant Pius Bigirimana—while simultaneously naming new appointees and redeploying officials across key government ministries . Alongside Mr Bigirimana, the list of retiring officials features prominent figures such as former Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige Kasaija, Maj Gen David Kasura-Kyomukama, Dr Rose Nassali Lukwago, Alex B. Okello, Dorcus W. Okalany, Bageya Waiswa, Edith Nsaja Mwanje, Alfred O. Okidi, Dr John Geoffrey Mbabazi, and Rose N. Kafeero.
To ensure administrative continuity, President Museveni, 82, exercised powers under Article 174(2) of the Constitution to retain 16 officials in their current positions, redeploy 11 others, and introduce 13 new appointments. According to Monday statement from the Presidential Press Unit, the major public sector shake-up is designed to reinforce institutional leadership, eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, streamline national development programmes, and improve service delivery.
The fresh appointments see a mix of promoted internal administrators, technical specialists, and academics replacing seasoned accounting officers. Under the new lineup, Emmanuel Freddie Mugunga moves to the Office of the Prime Minister, replacing Alex Kakooza. Former Ministry of Health Under Secretary Kenneth Akiri steps up as Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Water and Environment, replacing Alfred Okot Okidi, while former Ministry of Works Under Secretary Barbara Namugambe takes over the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries from Maj Gen Kasura-Kyomukama.
Other notable appointments include; Charles Ssentongo to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (replacing Vincent Waiswa Bagiire), Edith Butuuro to the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (replacing Rosette Byengoma), and Aggrey Wunyi to the Ministry of East African Community Affairs (replacing Edith Mwanje). In the technical dockets, academic Prof Stephen Akandwanaho succeeds Dr Aminah Zawedde at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, while Eng Flavia Guto Bwire takes over the Ministry of Works and Transport from Bageya Waiswa.
Within civil service management, Mark Sseremba assumes the role of Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Public Service, succeeding Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire.
In key constitutional and legislative transfers, Dr Edward Sengonzi Damulira, formerly Under Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, becomes the new Clerk to Parliament, while Betty Mutesa Cwinya-ai steps into the role of Secretary to the Public Service Commission, taking over from John Geoffrey Mbabazi.
Maureen Kasande replaces Rose N. Kafeero at the Inspectorate of Government, and Sheeba Kyobutungi Rujoki assumes leadership of the Science, Technology, and Innovation secretariat under the Office of the President.
As part of the reshuffle, 11 senior accounting officers were retained in service and redeployed to new posts. Doreen Silver Katusiime moves to the Judiciary, Bagiire Vincent Waiswa shifts to Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Catherine Birakwate Musingwiire goes to Gender, Labour and Social Development, and Benjamin Kumumanya transfers to the Judicial Service Commission.
Furthermore, Dunstan Balaba moves to Local Government, Lynette B. Bagonza to Ethics and Integrity, Nkeramihigo Julius Victor to Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Alex Kakooza to Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Dr Aminah Zawedde to Office of the Prime Minister (Coordination), Aggrey David Kibenge as Principal Private Secretary to the Vice President, and Rosette Byengoma as Senior Presidential Advisor on Defence Procurement.
Meanwhile, 16 top administrators were retained in their current posts to maintain stability. These include Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye, Deputy Head of Public Service Dr Mary T. Wenene, State House Comptroller Jane Barekye, Principal Private Secretary to the President Gloria Asio Omaswa, Yunus Kakande (Office of the President), Solicitor General Pius Perry Biribonwoha, and Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary Dr Ramathan Ggoobi.
Also retained in their posts are Dr Diana Atwiine (Health), Lt Gen Joseph Musanyufu (Internal Affairs), Eng Irene P. Bateebe (Energy), Robert Kasande (Justice), Dr Kedrace T. Rwankore Turyagyenda (Education), Jane Mwesiga Kyarisiima (OPM), Dr Asuman Lukwago (Education Service Commission), Ketty Lamaro (Health Service Commission), and Kainza Agnes Nzogi (ODPP).
Despite the government’s framing of the reshuffle as an efficiency drive, the changes have immediately sparked intense controversy.
The Uganda Law Society (ULS), led by President Isaac K. Ssemakadde, has strongly condemned the appointment process for the 13 new Permanent Secretaries and the Clerk to Parliament.
Speaking from self-exile, Mr Ssemakadde faulted the President’s directive asking the Public Service Commission merely to assess pre-selected candidates, arguing that it reduces the constitutional body to a rubber stamp and violates the separation of powers.
The lawyers’ body specifically criticized the placement of executive nominees into independent constitutional bodies—citing Maureen Kasande at the Inspectorate of Government and Betty Mutesa Cwinya-ai at the Public Service Commission—warning that such moves erode institutional autonomy.
The ULS has urged citizens and civil society organizations to challenge the appointments through public-interest litigation, setting the stage for a potential legal showdown over executive authority and public service recruitment.
In exercise of the powers vested in the President by Article 174(2) of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, I have appointed, retained and redeployed Permanent Secretaries and other senior public officers as indicated below.
The appointments are categorised as follows:
A. RETAINED IN THEIR CURRENT POSITIONS
The following 16 officials have been retained in their current positions:
- Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet
- Dr. Mary T. Wenene Deputy Head of Public Service and Deputy Secretary to Cabinet
- Jane Mwesiga Kyarisiima Deputy Head of Public Service, Performance and Service Delivery, Office of the Prime Minister
- Jane Barekye State House Comptroller
- Gloria Asio Omaswa Principal Private Secretary to the President
- Yunus Kakande Office of the President
- Eng. Irene P. Bateebe Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development
- Dr. Diana Atwiine Ministry of Health
- Lt. Gen. Joseph Musanyufu Ministry of Internal Affairs
- Robert Kasande Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
- Dr. Kedrace T. Rwankore Turyagyenda Ministry of Education and Sports
- Dr. Ramathan Ggoobi Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development
- Pius Perry Biribonwoha Solicitor General
Dr. Asuman Lukwago Education Service Commission - Ketty Lamaro Health Service Commission
- Kainza Agnes Nzogi Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
B. RETAINED AND REDEPLOYED
The following 11 officials have been retained in public service and redeployed to the respective offices indicated below:
- Doreen Silver Katusiime Judiciary
- Bagiire Vincent Waiswa Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities
- Catherine Birakwate Musingwiire Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development
- Benjamin Kumumanya Judicial Service Commission
- Dunstan Balaba Ministry of Local Government
- Lynette B. Bagonza Ethics and Integrity
- Nkeramihigo Julius Victor Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development
- Alex Kakooza Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives
- Dr. Aminah Zawedde Office of the Prime Minister (Coordination)
Aggrey David Kibenge Principal Private Secretary to H.E. the Vice President - Rosette Byengoma Senior Presidential Advisor on Defence Procurement
C. NEW APPOINTMENTS
The following 13 individuals have been appointed to the respective offices:
- Emmanuel Freddie Mugunga Office of the Prime Minister
- Prof. Stephen Akandwanaho Ministry of ICT and National Guidance
- Aggrey Wunyi Ministry of East African Community Affairs
- Mark Sseremba Ministry of Public Service
- Kenneth Akiri Ministry of Water and Environment
- Barbara Namugambe Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries
- Charles Ssentongo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Maureen Kasande Inspectorate of Government
- Eng. Flavia Guto Bwire Ministry of Works and Transport
- Edith Butuuro Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs
- Sheeba Kyobutungi Rujoki Office of the President (Science, Technology and Innovation)
- Betty Mutesa Cwinya-ai Public Service Commission
- Edward Sengonzi Damulira Clerk to Parliament
D. RETIREMENT OF PERMANENT SECRETARIES
By virtue of the powers vested in the President under Articles 99 and 172(1)(a) of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, I have retired the following 11 Permanent Secretaries:
- Hon. Adolf Mwesige Kasaija
- Maj. Gen. David Kasura-Kyomukama
- Dr. Rose Nassali Lukwago
- Alex B. Okello
- Dorcus W. Okalany
- Bageya Waiswa
- Edith Nsaja Mwanje
- Alfred O. Okidi
- Dr. John Geoffrey Mbabazi
- Rose N. Kafeero
- Pius Bigirimana
These decisions are made in accordance with the constitutional powers vested in the President of the Republic of Uganda.
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA