By Ben Musanje
Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo has revealed that she and fellow Cabinet members were caught by surprise when President Yoweri Museveni unveiled his new Cabinet much earlier than expected, admitting that many ministers had spent anxious days praying and speculating about their political futures.
Speaking during the 37th Heroes Day celebrations held virtually from State Lodge Nakasero, Alupo disclosed that members of Cabinet had anticipated at least another week or two before the President announced his final list of appointees following the formation of the new government.
According to the Vice President, ministers had entered a period of uncertainty after the conclusion of the vetting process, with many seeking divine intervention as they waited to learn whether they would retain their positions.
She recounted that ministers had been reaching out to pastors, sheikhs and catechists to pray for them, believing they still had more time before Museveni made his decisions. However, she said the President surprised both Cabinet members and the country by announcing the list far earlier than many had anticipated.
Alupo described the development as a pleasant surprise, noting that the announcement brought relief to ministers who had been nervously monitoring every political signal from State House.
Her remarks came just days after Parliament successfully vetted ministerial appointees and President Museveni presided over the swearing-in ceremony of at least 78 officials at State House Entebbe on June 8.
Alupo was the first official to take the oath, followed by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and her deputies Rebecca Kadaga, Crispus Kiyonga and Lukia Nakadama.
The Vice President assured Ugandans that the new Cabinet would remain focused on implementing the President’s vision and delivering government programmes. She indicated that ministers had embraced Museveni’s call for hard work and service delivery, stressing that there would be no room for complacency in the new term.
Political observers say Alupo’s admission reflects the anxiety that surrounded Cabinet appointments, especially among senior officials whose political futures appeared uncertain after months of intense political activity and internal competition within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
For Alupo personally, the reappointment may have carried added significance given some of the political and administrative challenges she has faced during her tenure as Vice President.
In recent years, she has found herself at the centre of political tensions in her home district of Katakwi, where a highly publicized rivalry with State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang generated concern among NRM leaders in the Teso sub-region.
Grassroots party leaders repeatedly warned that the growing feud between the two political heavyweights would undermine party cohesion ahead of national elections, prompting calls for President Museveni to intervene and reconcile the rival camps.
Alupo also faced criticism in 2022 when efforts to persuade teachers to suspend a nationwide strike failed despite lengthy negotiations between government and the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU).
Despite those challenges, Museveni’s decision to retain her as Vice President appears to signal continued confidence in one of the country’s most senior female politicians.
During her Heroes Day remarks, Alupo also paid tribute to veterans of the National Resistance Army and the broader liberation struggle, crediting their sacrifices for Uganda’s peace, security and economic progress.
She praised Museveni for consistently integrating veterans’ welfare programmes into government planning and budgeting, while commending ministers implementing initiatives aimed at improving the livelihoods of former fighters and civilian supporters of the liberation struggle.
As the new Cabinet begins its work, Alupo’s candid revelation about the tension and uncertainty surrounding reappointment has offered a rare glimpse into the nervous wait that often accompanies high-level political appointments in Uganda. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
