Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reappointed First Lady Janet Museveni as the country’s Minister of Education and Sports in the newly announced 2026–2031 cabinet.
The appointments were unveiled on May 27 as part of wider changes within Uganda’s government following the country’s latest political transition period.
Janet Museveni has held the education docket continuously since 2016, making her one of the longest-serving ministers in Uganda’s most influential ministry.
Before taking over the Education Ministry, she served as Minister for Karamoja Affairs between 2009 and 2011, before later becoming Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development from 2011 to 2016.
Her reappointment came as several senior political figures were removed from the new cabinet, while others retained their positions. Vice President Jessica Alupo and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja both remained in office under the reshuffled government.
However, longtime Finance Minister Matia Kasaija and veteran Deputy Prime Minister Moses Ali did not return to the new cabinet, marking one of the biggest shifts in Uganda’s senior leadership structure in recent years.
Political analysts in Uganda say Janet Museveni’s continued presence reflects her enduring influence within both the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the country’s broader state structure.
Over the years, she has played a major role in Uganda’s education policy, including reforms linked to school administration, curriculum development, and government funding programs.
Her political profile has also steadily expanded alongside President Museveni’s decades-long rule, with critics often pointing to the growing concentration of influence among longtime loyalists and family-linked figures within the government.
Supporters, however, argue that her long experience in public service has brought continuity and stability to Uganda’s education sector during periods of political and economic change.
The new cabinet is expected to oversee Uganda through another politically significant term as the country faces growing pressure over youth unemployment, public debt, governance reforms, and preparations for future regional economic projects.
