Parliament Approves Juma Witonze as State Minister for Internal Affairs

What the report says

Nile Post reported that Parliament’s Appointments Committee has cleared Juma Witonze Kisekka to become Uganda’s State Minister for Internal Affairs. The committee meeting was held behind closed doors on Thursday and chaired by Speaker Jacob Oboth-Oboth, with Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa serving as deputy chair. Witonze’s appointment still requires formal swearing-in before he takes up the role.

According to the report, Witonze is set to replace Dr Lawrence Muganga, the Victoria University vice chancellor whose nomination to the same post was not approved. After appearing before the committee, Witonze thanked President Yoweri Museveni and Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba for backing his nomination and said his first priority would be tackling corruption across departments under the Internal Affairs ministry.

Nile Post also reported that Witonze was asked about public concerns over alleged torture and recent abductions. He said he would first study the issues after assuming office and then respond in line with the law. Some members of the committee were described as supportive of his nomination, pointing to expectations around service delivery and rebuilding trust in the ministry.

The outlet identified Witonze as the current Chairperson of Youth in Gomba District. It also noted that he recently sought the National Resistance Movement ticket for the East African Legislative Assembly elections but lost in the party primaries. The Internal Affairs docket is significant because it covers sensitive state functions linked to public security, immigration and law-and-order institutions.