Nineteen newly appointed ministers have taken their official Oaths of Allegiance to formally assume their legislative seats as ex officio Members of Parliament.
The swearing-in ceremony is an administrative step to fully operationalize the new Cabinet. The legal process took place during a parliamentary plenary session chaired by the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth.
The administrative process complies strictly with Rule 3 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament. The mandatory rule dictates that no presidential appointee can take a seat or present government business before subscribing to both the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of a Member of Parliament.
Eighteen of the newly inducted officials serve as ex officio members. These leaders do not represent specific geographic constituencies but join the August House by virtue of their cabinet appointments. Under Article 78(4) of the Constitution, ex officio members maintain the right to debate but cannot vote on legislative decisions.
The newly sworn-in team includes the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Hon. Sanjay Tanna. While administering the oaths, Speaker Oboth-Oboth noted that the public expects immediate results from the new trade chief in advancing national industrialization and commerce.
The ceremony also saw the induction of the incoming Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, alongside the new Attorney General, Hon. Sam Mayanja. Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka previously held the Attorney General portfolio before his deployment to the defense docket.
Other key cabinet figures who took the solemn oaths include Hon. Balaam Barugahara (Local Government), Hon. Cissy Mulondo (State Minister for Finance), and Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba (Information, Communication Technology and National Guidance). The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Hon. Monica Musenero, and the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Hon. Tom Butime, also completed the legal process.
Three other senior ministers are yet to take their parliamentary oaths despite being sworn in by the President at State House Entebbe earlier this week. These pending officials are Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, Hon. Joyce Ssebugwawo, and Hon. Siraji Musa Ali.
