ENTEBBE — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has sworn in three newly appointed ministers at a ceremony held at State House Entebbe, formally bringing them into the government following their parliamentary vetting.
The ministers sworn in are Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, who takes charge as Minister of Foreign Affairs; Shartsi Kutesa Musherure, appointed Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development in charge of Micro-Finance; and Witonze Juma, who becomes Minister of State for Internal Affairs.
The appointments followed parliamentary vetting and clearance of issues surrounding the citizenship status of some of the nominees, which had delayed their assumption of office.
During the swearing-in ceremony, President Museveni congratulated the three ministers and urged them to focus on tackling corruption and inefficiency in government through stronger supervision and accountability.
“I congratulate them and urge them to focus on eliminating corruption and inefficiency in Government through proper supervision and accountability,” President Museveni said.
The President also addressed the issue of dual citizenship, saying the arrangement had been introduced in response to Uganda’s difficult political history.
He, however, stressed that Ugandans holding dual citizenship should be clear about where their primary loyalty lies.
President Museveni linked the citizenship debate to Uganda’s wider regional integration agenda, saying the East African Federation remains the long-term solution to questions surrounding identity and integration in the region.
The appointment of Ayebare to the Foreign Affairs docket comes as Uganda continues to deepen its diplomatic and regional engagements, while Kutesa’s assignment places him in charge of micro-finance matters within the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
Juma joins the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which oversees key areas including internal security, immigration and civil registration.
The ministers are now expected to assume their respective duties and implement the government’s policy priorities in their portfolios.
