President Yoweri Museveni has ordered ministers on office handover as the tenure of the fishermen cabinet (and fisherwomen) comes to an end.
At the moment there is confusion on whether the ministers are still in charge and if their decisions are binding.
The confusion is about the legality of ministers remaining in office after President Museveni held his final cabinet meeting on May 4, 2026 and hosted the cabinet of fishermen and fisherwomen to a farewell luncheon (or the cabinet last supper).
While some argue that the final cabinet meeting means that the ministers now have jobs and that cabinet was dissolved, others also say that the ministers can stay in office until their term formally ends, with presidential inauguration on May 12.
Former minister Sarah Opendi says there should be clarity in the Constitution on when the term of office for ministers end.
“In Uganda, there is a contradiction when it comes to the dissolution of the cabinet and Parliament,” she told NBS Frontline.
“All I am saying is that this needs to be resolved so that it is clearly stated in the law when the cabinet is dissolved.”
Information minister (outgoing) Dr Chris Baryomunsi says that the term of office for the cabinet will expire on May 11. Museveni, the minister continued, has given direction on handover of office before leaving.
However, the minister says President Yoweri Museveni, the appointing authority, has guided on what should happen next, and is expected to issue a statutory instrument on this direction.
“Technically speaking, the cabinet ends on 11th May but the President guided that ministers stay in office until they have handed over,” said Baryomunsi.
“The President will issue a statutory instrument guaranteeing that the ministers will stay in office until they hand over to new ministers so that there is no vacuum.”
Dr Baryomunsi is one of the ministers whose cabinet position hangs in balance, according to political observers, given his war of words with Museveni’s son and army chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
It should be remembered that some members of Museveni’s cabinet did not complete their term, including Agness Nandutu who is now in prison for stealing Karamoja iron sheets, although some critics argue that she is a sacrificial lamb for some big fish that were untouched despite being involved in the scandal. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
Meanwhile, speculation is rife on who could make it to Museveni’s 2026-2031 cabinet, with some former ministers who won back their MP seats on the list of those expected to return to cabinet. (See related reporting Here and There).
Meanwhile, some people have proposed that first son and military chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba be appointed vice president in what would appear like the final phase of the ‘Muhoozi Project,’ while others have proposed that Norbert Mao should be given the job. (See Details Here and There).
You can see the full cabinet list as of today HERE.
