President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s ruling party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), has announced a reshuffling of sectoral committee chairpersons. Among those affected by the changes are Budiope East MP Moses Magogo, who previously chaired the ICT committee and is married to Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among.

Additionally, Gomba West MP Robina Rwakoojo Gureme has been removed from her position as Chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee. Dr. Charles Ayume, the Koboko Municipality legislator and former Chairperson of the Health Committee, has also been replaced. Bunyaruguru County MP John Ntamuhiira Twesigye, who chaired the Education Committee, is another notable figure who has been dropped.

During a plenary session on July 23, Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua announced the new committee chairpersons and their deputies.

The reshuffle follows a June 2024 decision by the NRM’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) to remove all committee leaders in light of significant corruption allegations within the committees.

New Committee Chairpersons:

• Sylvia Nayebare (Gomba DWR): Chairperson of the Trade and Tourism Committee.
• Stephen Baka (Bukooli North MP): Chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.
• Herbert Edmund Ariko (Soroti East MP): Chairperson of the Committee of Environment and Natural Resources.
• James Nsaba Buturo (Bufumbira East MP): Chairperson of the Committee of East African Affairs.
• Shartsi Musherure (Mawogola North MP): Deputy Chairperson of the Committee of East African Affairs.
• James Kubeketerya (Bunya East MP): Chairperson of the Education Committee.
• Molly Asiimwe Musiime (Rwampara District Woman MP): Deputy Chairperson of the Education Committee.
• Agnes Kunihira (Workers MP): Chairperson of the Committee on Gender, Labour and Social Development.
• Laura Kanushu (MP for Persons with Disabilities): Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Gender, Labour and Social Development.
• Tony Ayoo (Kwania County MP): Chairperson of the ICT Committee.
• Iddi Isabirye (Bunya South legislator): Deputy Chairperson of the ICT Committee.
• Pius Wakabi: Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Public Service and Local Government.
• Flora Natumanya: Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Presidential Affairs.

The reshuffling comes amid President Museveni’s strong stance against corruption, particularly targeting corrupt officials and MPs colluding with finance ministry officials to embezzle public funds. The changes also coincide with the cooperatives compensation scandal, which has led to the remanding of five MPs and the permanent secretary of the trade ministry, Geraldine Ssali, over alleged theft of billions.