THE EDUCATION MINISTER IS BACK! Janet Museveni Expected to be Vetted and Sworn in Soon Following Recovery and Public Appearances

KAMPALA — For months, Janet Kataaha Museveni’s absence from Uganda’s most visible political and state functions had left an important question hanging over President Yoweri Museveni’s new administration: when would the First Lady formally take up the Education and Sports portfolio to which she was reappointed?

That uncertainty now appears to be easing.

The First Lady has returned to the public eye after a prolonged period away from official engagements, raising expectations that she could soon appear before Parliament’s Appointments Committee for vetting before taking the oath of office as Minister of Education and Sports.

Her return comes after President Museveni disclosed in June that his wife had suffered a serious health challenge but was recovering well. He said the illness occurred on March 21, 2026, and credited doctors and God with saving her life.

Janet’s absence had become particularly significant because, although the President retained her in the Education and Sports docket when he unveiled his new Cabinet in May, she did not attend the parliamentary vetting process that followed.

Parliament’s Appointments Committee vetted ministerial nominees.

Janet did not appear before the committee.

As a result, she was also missing when President Museveni swore in most members of the new Cabinet at State House Entebbe.

The First Lady’s absence was attributed to her health condition.

At the time, President Museveni appointed Dr John Chrysostom Muyingo as Acting Minister of Education and Sports to oversee the ministry during Janet’s absence.

That arrangement could now be approaching its end.

A significant indication came on August 19, when Janet appeared alongside President Museveni at State House Entebbe as they hosted international evangelist Bishop Dr LaDonna C. Osborn.

The engagement marked one of her most notable public appearances since she withdrew from public activities because of her illness.

The appearance was particularly notable because Janet had largely remained away from major public engagements for several months.

The August 19 appearance was Janet’s first public appearance in six months.

Her return to public view has therefore revived expectations that the constitutional process surrounding her ministerial appointment will soon be completed.

Under Uganda’s system, presidential nominees for ministerial positions are subjected to parliamentary scrutiny before they can formally assume office. Parliament’s Appointments Committee is responsible for examining nominees and approving or rejecting them.

Janet’s case was left unresolved when the rest of the Cabinet went through the process.

Her eventual appearance before the committee would clear the way for President Museveni to formally swear her into office, provided she is approved by Parliament.

For now, however, there is no publicly announced date for her vetting or swearing-in.

The expectation of her return to formal government duties comes at a time when the Education Ministry has already been operating under an interim arrangement, with Muyingo handling the ministerial responsibilities during Janet’s prolonged absence.

Janet, who has served as Education and Sports Minister since 2016, has therefore remained the substantive nominee for the portfolio even as the ministry has relied on acting leadership.

Her health recovery has also been accompanied by public expressions of thanksgiving.

The August appearance at State House has now provided the clearest public indication that Janet is regaining her normal activities.

While there has been no official confirmation that Parliament has scheduled her vetting, her renewed visibility is likely to intensify attention on when the outstanding constitutional steps will be completed.

Until then, Dr Muyingo remains the person handling the Education and Sports portfolio in an acting capacity, while Janet’s appointment awaits the parliamentary and swearing-in processes that other members of the new Cabinet have already completed.

If she is vetted and approved, her eventual swearing-in would formally restore her to the Cabinet for the 2026–2031 term and bring to a close months of uncertainty surrounding her health and political role.

The Pearl Times can also confirm that Janet Museveni made her second public appearance on August 23 at Maya Covenant Nations Hill where her daughter Patience Rwabwogo is being consecrated a bishop.

It should be remembered that Museveni accused Satan of attacking Janet, and the first lady praised God for intervening in her situation, as reported Here and There.