On the night of Tuesday, May 26, 2026, WhatsApp groups, Facebook pages, and X handles based in the Kigezi region erupted with congratulatory messages following the announcement of seven ministerial positions allocated to the Kigezi sub-region, after President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni unveiled his “Kisanjja No Sleep” Cabinet.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!As a reminder, Rujumbura County MP Hon. Jim Muhwezi was retained as Minister of Security; Rukungiri Municipality MP Hon. Henry Tumukunde was appointed Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development; Kisoro Woman MP Hon. Grace Akifeeza was named State Minister of Defense; former Ndorwa West MP Hon. David Bahati was retained as State Minister of Industry; Western Region Older Persons MP, Hon. Jacqueline Susan Ruhindi Mbabazi, has been appointed Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development (Elderly Affairs. Kinkiizi East MP Hon and Minister Chris Baryomunsi was transferred from Ministry of ICT to the Ministry of Health, and Rubanda East MP Hon. Henry Musasizi was appointed Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development.
While all seven ministerial appointments were received with great excitement, Musasizi’s elevation from State Minister of Finance to a full Cabinet portfolio as the overall Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development truly blew the roof off the buildings in Greater Kabale and across the Kigezi sub-region. Nightclubs, pubs, and bars in Kabale played his songs, and radio stations buzzed with calls as people congratulated the Rubanda East legislator, who has now set a record as the only second Minister of Finance from the Kigezi sub-region.
Why the Wide Celebration ?
The Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development (MoFPED) is considered the most powerful ministry in Uganda because it manages the national treasury, controls the country’s entire financial system, and oversees national planning.
MoFPED allocates funds to all other ministries, local governments, and state agencies. No government body can spend public funds without its approval.
The ministry designs the National Development Plans (NDPs) that shape Uganda’s long-term economic strategy, infrastructure development, and social programs.
It oversees the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to collect taxes and formulates tax policies that impact both businesses and citizens.
MoFPED negotiates, manages, and secures all foreign loans, grants, and domestic borrowing used to fund the national budget.
The ministry also coordinates with the Bank of Uganda to stabilize inflation, manage foreign exchange, and promote economic growth.
Strategic Influence.
While other ministries implement policies, MoFPED acts as the gatekeeper. No project or ministry can function effectively without its approval of budgets and release of funds.
Why Musasizi’s Promotion did Not Come as a Surprise .
In recent years, Rubanda East MP Hon. Henry Musasizi has become one of the most familiar faces in the media, thanks to his diligent work at the Ministry of Finance. He has become the face of Government whenever discussions about money, finance, or funds arise, often attending Parliament to answer complex questions from MPs, presenting budget statements, government loan requests, and other matters related to the national economy. He has effectively fulfilled his role as Deputy Minister, stepping in to support his former senior, Hon. Matia Kasaija, who is said to have on several occasions expressed satisfaction with Musasizi’s effectiveness over the past five years.
Musasizi’s influence extends beyond Parliament. He has traveled to numerous countries, including the headquarters of the African Development Bank, the World Bank, and others, negotiating loans for major infrastructure projects initiated by the government of Uganda . He has also represented Uganda at international forums particularly focussed on the Global Economy.
Performance at Home
When President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni recently warned that in this term (2026-2031), no minister should give excuses for failing to transform their home districts, he was likely referring them to performances of his ministers like Musasizi, who have maximized their influence and opportunities in government to bring about significant change in their districts. One notable Districts is Rubanda , where Musasizi’s name is mentioned on several billion-shilling Government projects commissioned between 2021 and 2026 during his tenure as State Minister of Finance. Due to space constraints, only five headline-making projects are highlighted:
1. The Rubanda District General Hospital, being built at a cost of Shs. 18.5 billion (already operational).
2. Ruhiija and Kibuzigye Seed Secondary Schools, valued at approximately Shs. 6 billion.
3. The upgrade of Hamurwa Health Centre IV, now the model health facility at its level across Western Uganda.
4. The Kashenyi-Kateretere piped water project, in Rubanda East, costing up to Shs. 47 billion, also benefiting Buhara Sub-county in Kabale District.
5. The construction of dormitories, classroom blocks, and multipurpose halls at Rubanda schools, including Nyamiringa Primary School, which had been operating in semi-permanent structures for over 20 years.
Additionally, the government disbursed substantial funds through Wealth Creation programs, notably the Parish Development Model (PDM). It is worth noting that the Model PDM Farmer in Greater Kabale District was chosen from Bubare Sub-county in Rubanda District, where President Museveni visited in February 2024.
The list of achievements also includes electricity and road infrastructure developments that can be found (read about them) on the internet.
President Museveni’s Ultimate Goal with Cabinet Appointments.
This is what President Museveni emphasizes: when you are appointed as a minister, the title should not only be a mark of honour and prestige. It should be reflected in your tangible impact on your community. Minister Musasizi has demonstrated beyond doubt that ministerial positions are not just prestige, they are a call to work harder and assume greater responsibilities to serve the country and the people who elected you.
Therefore, I join others in congratulating Hon. Henry Musasizi Ariganyira on his promotion and appointment as Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development.
Naboth Isaac Niwagaba , Journalist and Political Commentator.
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