Buganda emerged as the biggest beneficiary in President Museveni’s Cabinet reshuffle released on May 26, taking 21 of the 84 slots. Yet for some NRM supporters in the region, the numbers feel hollow.
The 21 appointments make up 25 percent of the Cabinet. Critics and party loyalists say it’s a starting point, but not enough given Buganda’s political and electoral weight. Many argue that while the region delivered for NRM in the January 15 general election, it was rewarded mostly with junior portfolios that carry limited influence.
The debate has reopened an old question in Uganda’s power politics: does electoral support translate directly into senior appointments?
Of the 30 full ministers named, Buganda got only four substantive slots. Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala moved from Works and Transport to Public Service. Minsa Kabanda was retained for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, and Judith Nabakooba kept Lands, Housing and Urban Development. Sam Mayanja, formerly State Minister for Lands, was elevated to Attorney General.
The rest of the 17 appointees from Buganda and the wider Central region are Ministers of State. New entrants include Desire Muhooza for Agriculture, Robert Migadde for Fisheries, Cissy Mulondo for Finance (General Duties), Amina Mukalazi for Finance (Privatization and Investment), Shartsi Kutesa Musherure for Finance (Microfinance), Justine Nameere for Local Government, Suzan Nakawuki Nsambu for Tourism and Antiquities, Kiryowa Kiwanuka for Defense, and Dr. Lawrence Muganga for Internal Affairs.
Retained junior ministers include Diana Mutasingwa, Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo, Amos Lugoloobi, Joyce Ssebugwawo, Kabuye Kyofatogabye, and Aisha Ssekindi. Haruna Kasolo was transferred from Microfinance to Foreign Affairs (Regional Affairs).
For a region that has produced Uganda’s most senior leaders, the balance feels off to some. Under Museveni, Buganda once held the Prime Minister’s office through Kintu Musoke, Apollo Nsibambi, and Samson Kisekka. Kisekka also served as Vice President, alongside Edward Ssekandi and Gilbert Bukenya. Gerald Ssendawula ran Finance from 1998 to 2005, Jaberi Bidandi Ssali served 17 years in various ministries, and Abu Mayanja held key posts from 1986 to 1994, including Attorney General and Third Deputy Prime Minister.
Political analysts see the new lineup as a balancing act rather than a regional reward. In 2021, NRM lost heavily in Buganda as NUP swept Wakiso, Masaka, Kampala, Mukono, and Mpigi. The region became the center of opposition politics, with NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi drawing strong urban and peri-urban support.
The January 2026 election showed some recovery for NRM in rural Buganda. Luweero, Nakaseke, Kyotera, Sembabule, Mubende, Kiboga, and parts of Greater Masaka registered gains for the party. NRM also held ground in western strongholds like Ankole and Kigezi, and kept dominance in much of northern and eastern Uganda.
Some NRM supporters say that recovery deserved more senior recognition. ‘There was expectation that Buganda would be rewarded because people sacrificed to rebuild the party image after the difficult 2021 election,’ said Hajji Abdul Kiyemba, an NRM mobiliser in Wakiso. ‘Many youth returned to support the party in 2026, but when the Cabinet came out, people started questioning whether the region is still trusted within the government.’
Others believe Museveni deliberately avoided concentrating power in Buganda due to its volatile politics. ‘Museveni always calculates politically,’ said Juliet Nsimire, a longtime NRM supporter in Rakai. ‘He may have looked at Buganda as still politically divided and decided to spread key positions across the country to maintain national balance.’
Analyst Sam Ssekamatte in Masaka pointed to Kigezi as an example. ‘Take the example of Kigezi sub-region, they voted Museveni overwhelmingly and this explains why out of the districts each has a minister in the new cabinet,’ he said.
The reshuffle also dropped veteran ministers including Matia Kasaija, Moses Ali, Jeje Odongo, Musa Ecweru, and Okello Oryem. Some read it as a move to bring in younger faces and prepare for future transitions. But in Buganda, critics say the imbalance risks deepening alienation.
Alexander Mackay Muhinda, a former LCV contestant in Rakai, said appointments carry symbolic weight. ‘In Uganda’s politics, people interpret the Cabinet not just as governance but as recognition,’ he said. ‘When a region feels underrepresented, it creates perception problems even if the government argues that appointments are based on competence and national interest.’
NRM youth leader Sam Mwesige in Kyotera argued that rewards follow loyalty and stability. ‘You cannot compare Buganda to regions where NRM wins overwhelmingly with ease,’ he said. ‘The President rewards loyalty and stability. Buganda is improving, yes, but politically it remains a contested territory where NUP has an upper hand.’
According to the Electoral Commission, Kyagulanyi won Buganda with 1,160,780 votes to Museveni’s 1,157,832. Each won 13 of the region’s 26 districts. NRM also reclaimed at least 24 parliamentary seats previously held by NUP.
Political analyst Siraje Nsanja said the Cabinet did not mark a major shift. ‘There were expectations that Buganda would benefit if the President opted for a broad reshuffle that could usher in new influential leaders from the region,’ Nsanja said. ‘But because he maintained a cautious approach and largely retained trusted cadres, Buganda appears to have missed out on the bigger share many anticipated.’
He said Buganda’s hope may now lie in parliamentary leadership and appointments to agencies and parastatals. He praised the inclusion of technocrats like Dr. Lawrence Muganga and Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, but noted that many Buganda appointees lack the political stature of the older generation. ‘That comparison also shapes public perception because representation is not only about numbers, but also the political weight and influence carried by those appointed,’ he said.
Historically, the Central region has dominated Cabinet since 1986. Museveni’s first Cabinet had 14 of 30 ministers from Buganda. While the region’s dominance in full Cabinet posts has declined, it remains the most populous region with an estimated 12.9 million people out of 45 million nationally.