President Museveni has appointed Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Cooperation, as acting Minister of Foreign Affairs following the vacancy of the portfolio.
In a letter dated June 22, Museveni invoked his powers under Article 99(1) of the Constitution to appoint Kasolo to temporarily head the ministry.
‘In exercise of the powers vested in the President under Article 99(1) of the Constitution, I hereby appoint you as acting Minister of Foreign Affairs in the absence of a substantive Minister,’ the letter reads.
The Foreign Affairs ministry and three other ministerial positions remain vacant after nominees were found to hold dual citizenship, contrary to restrictions on certain public offices under Ugandan law.
Article 15(7) of the 1995 Constitution allows Parliament to prescribe public offices that cannot be held by persons who are citizens of another country.
Under Section 19D and the Fifth Schedule of the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control Act, cabinet and other ministerial positions are classified as restricted offices, meaning holders must have sole allegiance to Uganda.
The issue came to prominence during the vetting of President Museveni’s Cabinet for the 2026-2031 term.
Dr Lawrence Muganga, who had been nominated as State Minister for Internal Affairs, was rejected by Parliament’s Appointments Committee after failing to provide satisfactory evidence that he had renounced his Canadian and Rwandan citizenship.
Other nominees affected by citizenship queries included Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, who had been nominated as Minister of Foreign Affairs; Calvin Echodu, nominated as State Minister for International Affairs; and Shartsi Kutesa Musherure, nominated as State Minister for Finance in charge of Microfinance.
Kasolo’s appointment is intended to ensure continuity at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as government considers a substantive appointment.
The letter was copied to Vice President Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, the Head of Public Service and the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.