Tooro Kingdom has overhauled its cabinet, with Omukama Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I introducing new ministerial positions, redistributing responsibilities among government departments and dropping up to 10 members of the previous administration.
The changes, announced on Wednesday by Prime Minister Omuhikirwa Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki, affect two deputy prime ministers and eight ministers. Among those who have lost their positions are Henry Basaliza, Harriet Nyakake, Francis Divine Kateeba and Joan Kantu Else.
Kateeba previously headed the combined Ministry of Sports and Education, one of several portfolios affected by the reorganisation. The new cabinet separates some responsibilities that had previously been managed together, while introducing dedicated departments for areas including youth affairs, information technology, security and palace affairs.
The reshuffle also changes the structure of the kingdom’s executive leadership, with the number of deputy prime ministers reduced from three to two.
NEW MINISTRIES AND SEPARATED PORTFOLIOS
A major change in the new cabinet is the creation of a standalone Ministry of Youth Affairs, ending the previous arrangement in which youth programmes were administered alongside education and sports.
Under the 2025 structure, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports operated as a combined department, with separate deputies overseeing the three areas. In the new arrangement, education and sports remain under one ministry, while youth affairs receives its own minister.
Hon. Lucia Alinda Amooti has been appointed Minister of Education and Sports, while Hon. Nicholas Mugume Amooti will head the newly created Ministry of Youth Affairs.
The kingdom has also established a Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), appointing Makerere University lecturer Hon. Dr. Drake Mirembe Apuuli as minister. Hon. Kasifa Kahunde Adyeri has been named deputy minister.
Security and Palace Affairs have also been brought under a dedicated ministry, with Hon. Samuel Nyabongo Kimoome Akiiki appointed to lead the department.
Gender affairs, meanwhile, has been separated into its own portfolio, with Hon. Victoria Rusoke named minister.
Foreign Affairs has also been elevated into a standalone ministry. Hon. Evelyn Bright Adyeri has been appointed to head the department, which takes over responsibilities that were previously handled at deputy prime minister level under the portfolio of Foreign Affairs and Inter-Kingdom Relations.
The new structure further provides for a Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Resource Mobilisation. However, the appointments announced so far do not identify a minister to head the department.
Alongside the creation of new ministries, the kingdom has introduced the office of Kingdom Spokesperson. Hon. Vincent Mugume Araali has been appointed to the position.
CHANGES TO EXISTING MINISTRIES
Several established departments have retained their core responsibilities but have been given new names or adjusted mandates.
The Ministry of Finance, Resource Mobilisation and Administration has been streamlined into the Ministry of Finance. Hon. Stephen Kasangaki Apuuli, who headed the former department, retains the finance portfolio in the new administration.
Local government and cultural affairs have also been reorganised. The former Ministry of Local Government, Culture and Clan Mobilisation has been reconstituted as the Ministry of Culture and Local Government.
Rt. Hon. Elasto Kasoro Akiiki, who previously led the combined ministry, has been appointed to head the revised department while also serving as Deputy Prime Minister.
Other portfolios retained in the new cabinet include health, tourism, agriculture, lands and housing, information and legal affairs.
Hon. Dr. Richard Mugahi Adyeri has been appointed Minister of Health, while Hon. Herman Olimi Adyeri will oversee Tourism.
Agriculture will be managed by Hon. Dr. Patience Rwamigisa Araali, while Hon. Vincent Agaba Araali retains responsibility for Lands and Housing.
Hon. John Musinguzi Atwooki has been appointed Minister of Information.
In the legal department, Owek. Richard Rwabwogo Apuuli has been named Attorney General, with Hon. Herbert Kwikiriza Apuuli appointed as his deputy.
TWO DEPUTY PRIME MINISTERS IN NEW STRUCTURE
The new appointments reduce the number of deputy prime ministers from three under the 2025 arrangement to two.
Rt. Hon. Elasto Kasoro Akiiki and Rt. Hon. Dr. Beyeza Abwooli have been appointed to the positions. Dr. Beyeza will additionally serve as Health Adviser.
Rwomiire remains at the helm of the kingdom’s cabinet as Prime Minister, a position he assumed in February 2025 after previously serving as Deputy Prime Minister. He succeeded Steven Kiyingi.
The reshuffle consequently goes beyond the removal and replacement of individual officeholders. It changes how several functions are distributed across the kingdom’s administration, with new ministries created for specific responsibilities and existing departments renamed or reorganised.
The separation of youth affairs from education and sports, the establishment of dedicated ICT and Gender ministries, and the creation of standalone Foreign Affairs and Security and Palace Affairs portfolios are among the most notable changes in the new cabinet.
You can see new full Tooro Kingdom cabinet list of 29 Ministers and Deputy Ministers Here.
