Uganda attained Independence on October 9, 1962, with Apollo Milton Obote becoming the first Prime Minister. At the time Obote named a Cabinet of 31 Ministers and Deputy Ministers.
It is instructive to note that despite not being the official government position, over the years two factors: religion and tribe, have played a big role in determining how the ‘political cake’ is distributed.
As a result of the ‘unofficial policy’, the competing interests of the Catholic-domintaed Democratic Party and the Protestant-dominated Uganda Peoples Congress and its ally the Kabaka Yekka, in the first post-Independence Cabinet 18 of the 31 ministers were Protestants. Of these, six were from the Central region (Buganda); four from Eastern region); eight from the Western region and three from the Northern region.
Similarly, during the Obote II government from December 10, 1980 to May 27, 1985, given that the same differences between the DP and UPC still obtained , there were 17 Protestant Ministers in the 20-member Cabinet. Of these three came from Northern region; six from the Eastern region; three from Central region and five from the Western region.
Today, in the first of seven-part series we bring you the Protestant men who served as Ministers during Obote’s two regimes that spanned a cumulative total of 13 years. Interestingly, there were no women in both Cabinets.
Apollo Milton Obote, Lango, Northern (Prime Minister/President)
Grace S. Ibingira, Munyankore, Western
Amos K. Sempa, Muganda, Central
John W. Lwamafa, Mukiga, Western
Dr. J.S. Zake, Muganda, Central
Balaki K. Kirya Mugwere Eastern
Jehoash S. Mayanja Nkangi, Muganda, Central
William W. Kalema, Muganda, Central
Lameck Lubowa, Muganda, Central
George B. Magezi Munyoro, Western
Sam. N. Odaka, Musamia, Eastern
John B. Kakonge, Munyoro, Western
C.B. Katiti, Munyankore, Western
James S. Ochola, Japadhola, Eastern
J.M. Okae, Lango, Northern
Joshua N. Wakholi, Mugisu, Eastern
Dr. E. Babumba Muganda, Central
- Y. Lakidi, Acholi, Northern
*Obote II administration (excluding those that served under Obote I)*
Paulo Muwanga, Muganda, Central
Erifasi Otema Alimadi, Acholi, Northern
Samuel Mugwisa, Muganda, Central
Joel M. Aliro Omara, Lango, Northern
Dr. James M. Rwanyarare, Mukiga, Western
Yona Kanyomozi, Muhororo, Western
Dr. Ezra R. Nkwasibwe Mukiga, Western
Dr. Adonia Tiberondwa, Munyankore, Western
Dr. David Obiara Anyoti, Iteso, Eastern
Dr. John M. Luwuliza Kirunda, Musoga, Eastern
Stephen Omoding Ariko, Iteso, Eastern
Abraham Pellen Waligo, Muganda, Central
Akena P’Ojok, Acholi, Northern
Sam Tewungwa, Musoga, Eastern
Patrick Masette-Kuuya, Mugisu, Eastern
Wilson Okwenje, Musamia, Eastern
Yosamu Mugenyi, Munyoro, Western
