Uganda Law Society Challenges Museveni's Appointment of Permanent Secretaries

The Uganda Law Society has challenged President Yoweri Museveni's nomination of 13 individuals to senior public service positions. In a statement released on November 9, 2026, the Law Society accused Museveni of bypassing constitutional procedures. They argue that the President presented the Public Service Commission with a list of pre-selected candidates for assessment, effectively reducing the Commission to a rubber stamp.

The controversy arose from Museveni's November 5 letter to the Public Service Commission Chairperson, in which he named 13 candidates for positions in government ministries, the Inspectorate of Government, the Public Service Commission, and Parliament. The Law Society argues that the President cannot independently select candidates and then ask the Commission to assess their suitability, as the Constitution requires appointments to be made acting on the Commission's advice.

The Law Society cited Article 174 of the Constitution, which states that Permanent Secretaries are public officers appointed by the President acting in accordance with the advice of the Public Service Commission. They argue that the procedure adopted by Museveni undermines the Commission's constitutional independence and denies other qualified Ugandans an opportunity to compete for the positions.

The Society also raised concerns over three nominated positions, arguing that they belong to independent constitutional institutions and should not be subjected to the same appointment procedure as Permanent Secretaries in government ministries. These positions include Secretary to the Inspectorate of Government, Secretary to the Public Service Commission, and Clerk to Parliament.

The Law Society accused individuals outside formal constitutional structures of influencing public appointments, specifically mentioning Gen. Salim Saleh and Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. They warned that appointments based on personal connections rather than merit could weaken public administration, undermine accountability, and affect service delivery.

The dispute comes as Museveni undertakes a major reshuffle of senior public servants, with several long-serving officials being replaced. Among the nominees are Emmanuel Freddie Mugunga, Sheeba Kyobutungi Rujoki, and Kenneth Akiri, among others. The President stated that the changes aimed to strengthen institutional leadership, improve administrative efficiency, and enhance the implementation of government programs and national development priorities.

The Law Society said the nominations could be challenged in court through a constitutional petition under Article 137 and offered to support public-interest litigation. They also called on the Public Service Commission to insist on open advertisement and competitive selection rather than endorsing the names submitted by the President.

Key points

• The Uganda Law Society challenges President Museveni's appointment of 13 permanent secretaries, citing constitutional breaches.
• The appointments undermine the independence of key government institutions.
• The Law Society warns that the appointments could weaken public administration and undermine accountability.