Uganda: Parliament Approves Expanded Cabinet

Parliament has approved a constitutional variation increasing the number of Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State, formally regularising President Museveni's latest executive appointments and reigniting debate over patronage, governance efficiency and public expenditure.

The motion, passed on Thursday with 320 MPs voting in favour, six against and two abstaining, aligns Uganda's executive structure with the President's Tuesday appointments of 30 Cabinet Ministers and 51 Ministers of State.

The last Cabinet and the new one formulated on Tuesday have both been done outside the constitutional mandate and the 12th Parliament sought to fix that on-the-go.

MPs adopted the resolution under Articles 113(2) and 114(2) of the Constitution. Article 113(2) limits Cabinet Ministers to 21 unless Parliament approves otherwise, while Article 114(2) applies the same provisions to Ministers of State.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja moved the motion seeking parliamentary approval to raise the ceiling on Cabinet Ministers from 21 to 30, and the number of other Ministers from 21 to 51.

The approval effectively makes the current executive structure constitutionally compliant.

However, government officials stressed that no additional ministers or ministries were being introduced beyond those already operational.

Uganda's current executive structure now comprises 30 Cabinet Ministers, 51 Ministers of State, the Vice President and the Prime Minister.

Defending the proposal, Nabbanja argued that Uganda's governance needs had significantly evolved since the promulgation of the 1995 Constitution.

She cited the increase in districts from 39 to 146 and population growth from about 20 million in 1995 to 45.9 million according to the 2024 census.

"This motion is not about numbers alone; it is about efficiency, accountability, inclusivity and alignment with Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan. While concerns about costs and duplication have been raised, Uganda's governance demands are unique, and the Constitution provides for this adaptive approach," Nabbanja said.

She also insisted government was not creating new positions beyond those already functioning under the previous Parliament.

"Members, the number of Ministers and Ministers of State that have been carrying out duties is the same number we have brought. We have not changed. Rationalisation was because we were having ambiguity and duplication of work. UNRA was doing the same work as the Ministry of Works. So we are here to present the same number we had in the last Parliament," she said.

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