The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) convened at State House Entebbe yesterday to appoint new leaders for 15 parliamentary sectoral committees. President Yoweri Museveni, who serves as the NRM’s national chairperson, presided over the meeting, which resulted in significant shifts in committee leadership.
Several committee heads were replaced during the session. The committees impacted include Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries; Defence and Internal Affairs; East African Community Affairs; Education and Sports; Environment and Natural Resources; Finance, Planning and Economic Development; Foreign Affairs; and Gender, Labour and Social Development. Other committees affected were Health; Information, Communication Technology, and National Guidance; Legal and Parliamentary Affairs; Presidential Affairs; Public Service and Local Government; Tourism, Trade and Industry; and Physical Infrastructure.
Notable changes included the removal of Budiope East MP Moses Hashim Magogo from his role as chair of the ICT and National Guidance Committee, and Mbarara South Division MP Mwine Mpaka from his position leading the Tourism, Trade, and Industry Committee. The Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee saw its chairperson, Robina Gureme Rwakoojo, and her deputy, Yusuf Mutembuli, replaced. Mutembuli, currently incarcerated on corruption charges, was succeeded by Bugabula North County MP John Teira.
Lira District Woman MP Agnes Linda Auma was replaced by Mubende District Woman MP Hope Nakazibwe as deputy chair of the Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries Committee. Ayivu East Division MP Geofrey Feta took over as chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, replacing Dr. Emmanuel Otaala of Budaama County.
The government plans to thoroughly vet the new appointees to ensure they meet standards of integrity and competence. Parliament was initially scheduled to meet yesterday, but the session was postponed to accommodate the CEC meeting, which Speaker Anita Among also attended. The House is expected to reconvene today, with the allocation of members to sectoral committees as a key agenda item, set for 30 minutes on the Order Paper.
Footage released by State House showed President Museveni leading the meeting, attended by prominent NRM figures including National Vice Chairperson Moses Kigongo, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Secretary General Richard Todwong, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Affairs Rebecca Kadaga, Information Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua, former Premier Ruhakana Rugunda, NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson Tanga Odoi, and Security Minister Jim Muhwezi.
NRM spokesperson Emmanuel Dombo informed NTV that the reshuffle is in line with a 2021 CEC resolution to rotate committee members after two consecutive terms to ensure new leadership. Dombo emphasized that this decision was planned and not a reaction to recent events.
President Museveni reaffirmed his commitment to fighting corruption, referencing the violent rearrest of Busiki MP Paul Akamba last Friday after he was granted bail. Recently arrested on corruption charges, Mutembuli and Lwengo District Woman MP Cissy Namujju were brought before court. Akamba, after securing bail, was rearrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location. The cases against Mutembuli and Namujju have been referred to the High Court.
The CEC had initially discussed the reshuffle last Tuesday, under the chairmanship of Moses Kigongo, but postponed the final decisions to yesterday. President Museveni noted that issues concerning commissioners and service awards would need more time and would be discussed in a future meeting.
Dombo indicated that the CEC plans to meet again in about two weeks to address these remaining topics. He stressed the importance of internal party agreement on significant matters, following NRM’s regulations, before any formal actions or endorsements are made.
