President Yoweri Museveni’s latest Cabinet reshuffle has cemented a trend three decades in the making: women from Busoga now dominate the sub-region’s national leadership, even as the region’s overall slots shrink.
Unveiled on Tuesday, the new Cabinet cut Busoga’s representation from seven ministers to five. Every minister retained from the sub-region is a woman. Two male ministers lost their positions after electoral setbacks.
Those retained are First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs Rebecca Kadaga; Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without Portfolio Lukia Nakadama; Minister for the Presidency Milly Babalanda; State Minister for Housing Persis Namuganza; and Justine Kasule Lumumba, the Minister for ICT and National Guidance.
Lumumba previously served as Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister in charge of General Duties from 2021, and before that as NRM Secretary General.
The appointments reinforce what political observers call Busoga’s ‘women at the centre’ pattern. The region’s most visible national figures over the last 30 years have been female: Specioza Wandera Kazibwe, Uganda’s first female Vice President; Kadaga; Lumumba; and Namuganza.
Male ministers drop out
The reshuffle came at the expense of former State Minister for Cooperatives Fredrick Ngobi Gume and former State Minister for Agriculture Fred Bwino Kyakulaga. Both lost political ground in the recent electoral cycle.
Ngobi Gume, former MP for Bulamogi North West, contested as an independent after losing the NRM primaries and lost the parliamentary bid. Kyakulaga, who sought Kigulu North, failed to survive the primaries and later withdrew.
Their exit shrinks Busoga’s Cabinet team from seven to five, reigniting debate on why women from the region keep rising while many male politicians struggle for visibility.
‘Women are more dependable’ Analysts say Museveni’s system rewards loyalty, visibility and long-term alignment with the ruling establishment – qualities several Busoga women have built over time.
Mr Faisal Mayemba, a former Jinja South East parliamentary contestant, puts it plainly: ‘Politics starts from the Presidency. There is a belief within the system that women are more dependable when it comes to implementing government programmes and remaining loyal to the political line.’
Others credit affirmative action.
‘The NRM encouraged girl-child education and expanded opportunities for women. After that, it became necessary to elevate women into leadership positions. That investment is now producing visible political results,’ said Jinja District politician Joseph Lugada.
Jinja-based journalist Wyclif Ofono adds historical timing: ‘When the NRM came into power in 1986, the global movement for women empowerment was gaining momentum. Busoga already had highly educated and accomplished women who were prepared to occupy national leadership spaces.’
Confidence and performance
Busoga has 44 MPs, but only 14 are women. Yet female politicians from the sub-region hold some of the country’s most influential offices.
Former Jinja City Deputy Speaker Sirina Kyakuwaire says perceptions have changed: ‘For many years people underestimated women, but we have demonstrated that leadership is about ability and performance, not gender.’
NRM Jinja City Publicity Secretary Amina Mirembe notes growing ambition: ‘Women now believe they can compete for any position. Leaders like Persis Namuganza have shown that women can rise from grassroots politics to national prominence.’
Despite women’s dominance, some Busoga leaders are unhappy about the reduced Cabinet slots. They argue the region’s stronger electoral support for Museveni deserved more reward.
Between 2021 and 2026, Museveni’s vote share in Busoga rose from under 50% to just above 53%. Party supporters read that as a recovery and expected Busoga to keep or expand its Cabinet footprint.
Instead, the region now has five ministers, all women. The message from State House is clear: in Busoga’s contest for national power, female loyalty and visibility are currently carrying the day.