By Caroline
Parliament’s Committee on Appointments has vetted 42 of the 81 individuals nominated by President Yoweri Museveni for Cabinet and State Minister positions, with several nominees using the exercise to outline their priorities for the next five years.
The vetting exercise, chaired by Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, took place at Parliament on Monday, 1 June 2026, as the committee continued scrutinising candidates nominated to serve in various government ministries and agencies.
Among those vetted were the Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without Portfolio, Hon. Lukia Nakadama, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, Attorney General-designate, Hon. Sam Mayanja, and Second Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament, Dr Crispus Kiyonga.
Speaking to journalists after appearing before the committee, Nakadama pledged to strengthen coordination between Parliament and the Executive, particularly by addressing the persistent challenge of ministerial absenteeism during parliamentary sittings.
She revealed plans to introduce a structured rota system to ensure ministers are available to respond to questions, present bills and table reports before Parliament.
“As far as I am concerned, there are things that we have to change. We are going to come up with a rota for whoever will be supposed to attend Parliament so that we do not make Parliament stuck. Ministers should be there because they have to answer questions, they have to table their bills and present papers,” Nakadama said.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister-designate Henry Musasizi outlined government’s commitment to strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation by increasing Uganda’s tax-to-GDP ratio from the current 13 per cent to 20 per cent over time.
Musasizi also highlighted the continued implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM), describing it as a key driver of wealth creation and household income improvement.
“We have moved a great mile; about Shs4.4 trillion is now in the parishes. We shall continue ensuring that the remaining households are brought into the money economy,” he said.
Addressing concerns over the suspension of funding for some public holiday celebrations, Musasizi explained that government was pursuing greater efficiency in public expenditure by redirecting resources from non-essential activities to priority sectors capable of generating economic growth and improving service delivery.
The Minister of Works and Transport-designate, Hon. Fred Byamukama, identified corruption as one of the major challenges affecting infrastructure development and pledged to intensify efforts to eliminate corrupt practices within the sector.
He said government would prioritise the completion of major transport projects, including the Standard Gauge Railway linking Kampala to Malaba and eventually Naivasha in Kenya, as well as the rehabilitation of the Meter Gauge Railway network. According to Byamukama, improved railway infrastructure will significantly reduce transport costs and enhance regional trade competitiveness.
He also committed to accelerating the completion of delayed road projects such as the Mubende–Mityana Road, Mutukula Road and the Jinja Expressway.
At the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze reiterated government’s commitment to supporting farmers through the Parish Development Model while expanding access to affordable financing for medium and large-scale agricultural enterprises.
“PDM remains our flagship programme for smallholder farmers, while larger farmers will continue benefiting from low-interest financing through institutions such as the Uganda Development Bank and other government-supported financial programmes,” he said.
Attorney General-designate Sam Mayanja said his appointment would enable him to continue advancing legal reforms and improving governance, particularly in land administration. He noted that many longstanding land disputes could be resolved through effective enforcement of existing laws rather than introducing new legislation.
“The issues of land titling, double titling, district land boards operating in accordance with the law and ownership disputes can be addressed quickly through proper implementation of existing legal frameworks,” Mayanja said.
The vetting exercise is expected to continue as Parliament considers the remaining nominees before forwarding its recommendations to the President. The outcome will determine the composition of the Cabinet tasked with implementing government programmes and driving Uganda’s socio-economic transformation agenda.