President Yoweri Museveni has reportedly made it clear to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs Rebecca Kadaga that her time in Cabinet could be over following controversial recordings allegedly linking her to witchcraft schemes targeting senior government figures.
Recently, reports indicate, Museveni summoned Kadaga to a tense closed-door meeting at State House, a gathering many political observers initially believed had been convened to discuss the ongoing political uncertainty surrounding Speaker Anita Among.
However, veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda claims that the meeting took a dramatic turn when the President reportedly played audio recordings in which Kadaga was allegedly heard instructing traditional witchdoctors to cast spells against several top figures in Uganda’s political establishment, with the intention of causing their deaths.
The individuals allegedly targeted in the recordings included Museveni himself, First Lady Janet Museveni, the president’s son Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the president’s younger brother Gen Salim Saleh, and Speaker Anita Among.
Mwenda further claimed that the atmosphere inside the meeting became emotional after the recordings were played. Kadaga reportedly broke down in tears and apologized before a group of Christian bishops who had allegedly been invited to witness the discussions. The bishops are said to have prayed during the meeting as tensions escalated over the shocking allegations.
While the authenticity of the recordings has not been independently verified, sources say Museveni used the meeting to send a strong message that Kadaga’s future in Cabinet was no longer guaranteed.
According to the reports, the President told her directly that she should forget about returning as a minister in the next government cabinet for the 2026-2031 that the head of state is expected to unveil soon.
Kadaga, one of Uganda’s longest-serving female politicians, has remained an influential figure in the ruling National Resistance Movement despite suffering major political setbacks in recent years. In 2021, she lost the powerful Speaker of Parliament position to the late Jacob Oulanyah after an intense internal contest within the NRM.
Following that defeat, Museveni appointed her Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs, a move widely viewed as a consolation meant to keep her within the top ranks of government.
However, with the latest allegations now dominating political discussions, even that position is reportedly under threat.
If dropped from Cabinet, Kadaga would remain as the Woman Member of Parliament for Kamuli District, a seat she has held for years and through which she has maintained her political influence in Busoga sub-region.
Read and watch the report about how Kadaga cried after Museveni played recordings of her telling a witchdoctor to bewitch and kill first family members Here.
You can see the former ministers who are expected to return to Museveni’s cabinet, even as Muhoozi pushes for the firing of old politicians from cabinet Here and There.
You can read our projections on the Vice President job for 2026-2031 Here, There and Over There.
Latest on Speaker Race
Meanwhile, the speaker race that has been a subject of state interest for many weeks now, seems to be clear now after president Museveni convinced 17 NRM MPs to step aside for the two candidates of his choice. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
Lydia Wanyoto and other female MPs have been promised minister jobs after they dropped out of the speaker and deputy speaker races, as reported Here.
