Museveni drops Mwesige as Clerk to Parliament

What the report says

President Yoweri Museveni has removed Adolf Mwesige as Clerk to Parliament and nominated Edward Sengonzi Damulira to replace him, according to The Observer. The changes were announced alongside a wider reshuffle affecting permanent secretaries and senior administrators across several ministries and government bodies. Museveni said he was acting under powers in Uganda’s 1995 Constitution and asked the Public Service Commission to review the nominees before the appointments are completed.

The Observer said the move comes as Parliament moves from the 11th to the 12th Parliament, after a period marked by scrutiny over administration, finance and staffing. Mwesige, a former minister and MP, has led Parliament’s administration since July 2021. The article links the transition to earlier investigations and controversies, including probes into alleged financial misconduct, arrests of senior officials, and a staff validation exercise.

The report also cited recent findings and accusations involving Parliament, among them concerns about recruitment practices, irregular promotions and spending questions that triggered public outrage in 2024. The article places the reshuffle in that broader context, suggesting the leadership changes are part of a wider administrative reset.

Other nominations named by the president include replacements at the ICT and National Guidance, Defence and Veteran Affairs, Office of the Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs, Public Service, Works and Transport, and other offices. The Observer reported that the nominees are now subject to the Public Service Commission’s assessment before final confirmation.