Uganda has had nine Presidents, with General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, in power for 31 years now, taking a lion’s share of the 55 years since the country attained its political independence from the colonial masters. However, in all those years, all the Presidents have ignored the minority tribes in as far as cabinet appointments and other senior government jobs are concerned.
Research carried out by this Website shows that since Independence, no one from among other tribes, the Banyala, Bakenye, Tepeth, and Vonoma has ever been appointed a Minister, Permanent Secretary, Director or Commissioner in any of the government ministries and departments.
Similarly, the Banyole of Eastern Uganda have had one cabinet minister Dorothy Hyuha, who served as minister Without Port filo. However, after 2008, it became too hard for one to count President Museveni’s ministers because of the several cabinet reshuffles that have taken place.
How to find the ‘minority tribes’
The Vonoma, Nyangia and Dodoth are found in Kotido; the Napore and Ik are found in Kaabon, while the Ethur are found in Abim. The Jie are found in both Kotido and Pader.
The Pokot are found in Sebbi sub-region; the Kumam live around Lake Kyoga in-between Dokolo and Soroti districts and their dialect is almost similar to the Ateso.
The Bagwe are found in southern Samia and in Serere district (Bukedi sub-region) and are fussed together with the Basamia while Bakenyi are generally spread across the Lake Kyoga belt. Their major economic activity is fishing and cattle keeping.
The tribes of Uganda:
1.Acholi
2. Alur
3.Baamba
4. Babukusu
5. Babwisi
6.Bafumbira
7.Baganda
8.Bagisu
9.Bagungu
10.Bagwe
11.Bagwere
12.Bahehe
13. Bahororo
14.Bakenyi
15.Bakiga
16.Bakonzo
17.Banyabindi
18.Banyankore
19.Banyara
20.Banyarwanda
21.Banyole
22.Banyoro
23.Baruli
24.Basamia
25.Basoga
26.Basongora
27.Batagwenda
28.Batoro
29.Batuku
30. Batwa
31.Chope
32.Dodoth
33.Ethur Ik (Teuso)
34.Iteso
35.Jie
36.Jonam
37.Jopadhola
38.Kakwa
39.Karimojong
40.Kebu (Okebu)
41.Kuku
42.Kumam
43.Langi
44.Lendu
45.Lugbara
46.Madi
47.Mening
48.Mvuba
49.Napore
50.Nubi
51.Nyangia
52.Pokot
53.Sabiny
54.So (Tepeth)
55.Vonoma
Meanwhile, just like it is with the minority tribes, religions with few followers haven’t fared well in the area of appointments to influential jobs.
For instance, over the last 55 years Dr. Samson Kisekka was the only Seventh Day Adventist to have risen to prominence in government, when he served in the post-1986 government of President Museveni both as a Prime Minister and later on as Vice President. All his successors; Dr. Specioza Wandira Kazibwe, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya and Mr. Edward Kiwanuka Sekandi, are Catholics.
Meanwhile, between 1986 and 2008 Museveni appointed 46 Protestant Ministers and State Ministers; nine Muslim Ministers and State Ministers and, 46 Catholic Ministers and Ministers of State.
Last week, we listed the men and women who have served as Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Ministers of State under President from the east and north and in today’s series we bring the readers the cabinet ministers from the Central and Western regions.
Name Ethnicity Region Religion
Gertrude Njuba Muganda Central Protestant
Kafumbe Mukasa Muganda Central Muslim
William Nyakatura Mutoro Western Catholic
John Ntimba Munyankore Western Catholic
Kiiza Besigye Muhororo Western Protestant
Yafesi Sabiti Munyankore Central Protestant
Abubaker Mayanja Muganda Central Muslim
Byekwaso Lubega Muganda Central Catholic
David Tinyefunza Munyankore Central Protestant
Fred Rwigyema Munyarwanda Western Catholic
Stephen Kavuma Muganda Central Protestant
Israel Kayonde Munyarwanda Western Protestant
S. Kiingi Muganda Central Protestant
Mrs. Joyce Mpanga Muganda Central Protestant
Mutebi Mulwanira Muganda Central Catholic
Florence Nkurukenda Munyoro Western Catholic
Kiiza Amooti Munyoro Western Catholic
Isoke Baguma Munyoro Western Catholic
Matthew Rukikaire Muhororo Western Protestant
Rhoda Kalema Muganda Central Protestant
John Kawanga Muganda Central Catholic
Constantine Karusoke Mutoro Western Catholic
Deo Rwabiita Munyankore Western Catholic
Gerald Sendaula Muganda Central Catholic
Besweri Mulondo Muganda Central Protestant
Med Kaggwa Muganda Central Muslim
Dr. Sebunya Kibirige Muganda Central Catholic
Dr. Kezimbira Miyingo Muganda Central Catholic
Dr. Abel Rwendeire Mukiga Western Catholic
Francis E. Babu Muganda Central Catholic
Philip Byaruhanga Munyoro Western Catholic
Matiya B. Isoke Munyoro Western Catholic
Emmanuel Kirenga Muganda Central Catholic
Ruth Nankabirwa Muganda Central Catholic
Dr. Alfred Mubanda Muganda Central Protestant
Vincent Nyanzi Muganda Central Protestant
Manzi Tumubweine Mukiga Western Protestant
Fabius Byaruhanga Munyankore Western Catholic
Philemon Mateke Mufumbira Western Protestant
Florence Nayiga Muganda Central Protestant
Benigna Mukiibi Munyoro Western Catholic
Tim Lwanga Muganda Central Protestant
Rukutana Mwesigwa Munyankore Western Protestant
Prof. Peter Kasenene Munyankore Western Catholic
Mary R. Mugyenyi Munyankore Western Protestant
Richard Nduhuura Munyankore Western Protestant
Sam Bitangaro Mufumbira Western Protestant
Alex Kamugisha Muhororo Western Catholic
Kamanda Bataringaya Mwamba Western Catholic
Hope Mwesigye Mukiga Western Protestant
Prof. Semakula Kiwanuka Muganda Central Catholic
James Nsaba Buturo Mufumbira Western Protestant
Nshimye Sebutulo Munyarwanda Central Catholic
Nyombi Thembo Muganda Central Protestant
Charles Bakkabulindi Muganda Central Catholic
Aston Kajara Mutoro Western Catholic
Prisca B. Mbaguta Sezi Muhororo Western Catholic
Caleb Akadwanaho Munyankore Western Protestant
Kagimu Kiwanuka Muganda Central Catholic
Matia Kasaija Munyoro Western Catholic
Bright Rwamirama Munyankore Western Protestant
Serapio Rukundo Mukiga Western Catholic
Ephraim Kamuntu Munyankore Western Protestant
Dr. Kasirivu Atwoki Munyoro Western Catholic
Urban Tibamanya Munyankore Western Catholic
Maj. James Kinobe Muganda Central Protestant
Sulaiman Madada Muganda Central Muslim
John Byabagambi Munyankore Western Catholic
Fred Ruhindi Munyankore Western Protestant
Alintuma Nsambu Muganda Central Catholic
