Uganda's 'Fishermen Cabinet' Concludes Term Amidst Mixed Success and Scandals

The Ugandan government’s “Fishermen Cabinet,” appointed after President Yoweri Museveni’s re-election in 2021, has officially ended its tenure. While President Museveni lauded the cabinet for guiding Uganda towards middle-income status, its term was significantly overshadowed by scandals and persistent issues with corruption.

The “Mabaatigate” scandal, which surfaced in early 2023 concerning the alleged diversion of iron sheets meant for the Karamoja region, implicated numerous high-ranking officials. Despite the widespread accusations, only former Karamoja Affairs Minister Dr. Mary Goretti Kitutu and her junior, Agnes Nandutu, faced significant political repercussions, with Nandutu later receiving a four-year jail sentence.

Despite these controversies, key figures such as Vice President Jessica Alupo and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja remained in their posts. Speaker Anita Among, however, faced sanctions from the United States and the United Kingdom.

Uganda’s performance on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index has remained low, with scores consistently in the mid-20s and rankings around 140th out of 180 countries, indicating entrenched public sector corruption. An estimated Shs10 trillion is lost annually to corruption-related activities, according to the Inspectorate of Government.

Despite these challenges, Prime Minister Nabbanja highlighted the government’s achievements, stating that 87 percent of key priority targets from the 2021–2026 NRM manifesto were met, citing progress in job creation, social services, and regional integration.

President Museveni credited the outgoing cabinet for economic growth, noting a GDP recovery to 6.3 percent in FY2024/25 and an increase in GDP per capita. He also pointed to improved electricity access, reduced poverty levels, and doubled revenue collection as key achievements.

While the President declared Uganda a lower middle-income country, this classification has been debated, with the World Bank maintaining Uganda’s low-income status. However, a UN report indicated Uganda has met criteria for potential graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, though formal graduation is not expected before 2032.

The tenure of these ministers concluded following the cabinet’s final meeting on May 4th, 2026. Full details on the cabinet’s performance can be found in the Daily Monitor.