The mood in Uganda’s corridors of power has turned tense, uncertain, and deeply restless as President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni prepares to chair what is expected to be his final Cabinet meeting on Monday before dissolving the government ahead of his swearing-in on May 12.
What should ordinarily be a routine constitutional ritual has instead morphed into a high-stakes moment of political suspense, with ministers gripped by fear over their fate in the next administration.
Inside ministries, the signs are already unmistakable. Some offices have quietly been cleared, personal effects removed, and aides instructed to prepare for abrupt transitions. Conversations that once centered on policy are now dominated by speculation, rumors, and whispered calculations about who is likely to survive the looming reshuffle.
But beyond the formal offices of government, a more dramatic picture is emerging.
Multiple sources say a number of ministers have turned to spiritual avenues in a bid to secure their political future. From churches to shrines, and even private consultations with fortune tellers, the anxiety has spilled into deeply personal and unconventional spaces.
Late-night prayer sessions have reportedly intensified, while others are said to be seeking assurances from spiritual advisors in what one insider described as “a desperate search for certainty in an uncertain game.”
The tension is not without precedent. In 2021, Museveni undertook a similar exercise, dissolving his Cabinet before unveiling a new team that caught many off guard. Several seasoned figures were dropped without warning, while new and relatively unknown faces were elevated into powerful positions. That experience has lingered in the minds of the current office holders, shaping the sense of unease now gripping the political establishment.
This time, the stakes appear even higher. There is growing belief within political circles that the President could use the reshuffle to inject younger faces into government, signaling a shift toward a more energetic and possibly technocratic Cabinet. Such expectations have only heightened anxiety among long-serving ministers who now fear being edged out by a new generation.
During the ‘Jazz with Jajja,’ conversation with social media influencers, President Museveni revealed that he did not have a problem appointing young people in the cabinet.
The CDF, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba recently went on social media espousing the same about the makeup of the next cabinet.
Sources say members of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) that he leads, are likely to eat big in the new government.
At the same time, those who recently lost their parliamentary seats are widely seen as being in a particularly vulnerable position.
Insiders suggest that electoral defeat has significantly weakened their standing, pushing them lower in the pecking order of potential reappointments. While presidential discretion has in the past salvaged some political careers, there is no guarantee that history will repeat itself.
Behind the scenes, intense lobbying is underway. Ministers and their allies are reportedly reaching out to influential figures, attempting to secure last-minute backing or reinforce their loyalty credentials. Old alliances are being revived, and in some cases, rivalries have sharpened as the race for survival enters its final stretch.
Despite the tension, Monday’s Cabinet meeting is expected to project an image of calm and continuity.
Sources familiar with the matter say, there will be speeches, expressions of gratitude, and the usual formalities that accompany such high-level gatherings.
Yet beneath the surface, the reality will be starkly different, with each attendee acutely aware that this could mark the end of their tenure in government.
Once the Cabinet is formally dissolved, all ministers will cease to hold office, leaving their political futures hanging in the balance as the country awaits the announcement of a new team.
READ ALSO: Fresh Faces, Heavyweights Jostle for Spots in Museveni Next Cabinet
For now, Kampala remains on edge. In government offices, places of worship, and private residences alike, the same question echoes with growing urgency: who will make it back—and who will be left behind?
In the end, as many within the system quietly admit, the answer lies with one man, and one man alone- the man from Rwakitura, regarded as a political chess grandmaster.
Kaweesa Bigali
May 4, 2026 at 9:29 am
It’s time we get workers not Honourables. Leaders who are servants.