Politics 28 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
NRM Dominates Parliament to Approve President Museveni's Expanded 83-Member Cabinet
The ruling NRM party utilized its parliamentary majority to approve President Museveni's significantly enlarged 83-member cabinet, overriding opposition concerns regarding cost and adherence to constitutional limits. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/nrm-numbers-crush-opposition-resistance-to-approve-museveni-s-massive-83-member-cabinet-5477090
The Ugandan Parliament has officially sanctioned President Yoweri Museveni’s substantial expansion of his executive team, approving an 83-member cabinet for the 2026-2031 term. The decision, pushed through by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party’s overwhelming majority, saw opposition lawmakers’ attempts to block the move fail.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja presented a motion to increase the number of Cabinet Ministers from the constitutional limit of 21 to 30, and State Ministers from 21 to 51. She defended the move by stating that the government was maintaining the ministerial numbers from the previous Parliament, not increasing them, and that proposed rationalizations were aimed at reducing duplication of work.
Opposition legislators strongly opposed the motion, citing concerns about fiscal indiscipline and the use of ministerial appointments for political patronage. They argued that a leaner cabinet aligns better with the constitution’s intent and frees up resources for essential public services. Critics also pointed out the contradiction between the expanded cabinet and the government’s previously publicized rationalization policy aimed at cutting public expenditure.
However, supporters of the expansion, including Prime Minister Nabbanja and several NRM MPs, justified the move by referencing Uganda’s significant population growth (now over 45.9 million) and the expansion of administrative districts. They argued that increased ministerial portfolios are necessary to address the growing demands of service delivery and ensure equitable representation. Additionally, they highlighted the need for dedicated oversight for large-scale government programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM) and other wealth-creation initiatives.
Despite the fierce debate, the NRM’s numerical advantage ensured the approval of the motion, legalizing the 83-member executive. This decision effectively allows for the implementation of the NRM’s manifesto for the next five years with a significantly enlarged team at the helm.