President Yoweri Museveni has appointed Juma Witonze Kisekka as the new Minister of State for Internal Affairs, replacing Dr. Lawrence Muganga, whose nomination for the same position was rejected by Parliament’s Appointments Committee.
The appointment comes months after Dr. Muganga, who had been named in the President’s May 2026 Cabinet reshuffle, failed to secure parliamentary approval following concerns raised over his citizenship status during the vetting process.
Before his appointment to Cabinet, Witonze served as the Greater Mpigi Regional Coordinator for the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU). He is also known as an influential mobiliser within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
His appointment fills a vacancy that had remained open since Parliament declined to approve Dr. Muganga’s nomination, requiring the President to name a replacement.
Witonze is expected to appear before Parliament’s Appointments Committee for vetting before he can be formally sworn in and assume his duties at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where he will support the ministry in overseeing internal security, immigration, citizenship, and other government administrative functions.
By Olivia Nabaggala
27th July 2026