Former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Henry Okello Oryem said he was disappointed after being excluded from President Yoweri Museveni's latest cabinet reshuffle.

The omission of a long-serving official from the executive branch signals a shift in the administration's strategic direction or a realignment of political loyalties within the Ugandan government.

Oryem said he was reacting to the decision on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Kampala. The former minister had been a fixture in the government's diplomatic efforts for over two decades. According to reports, Oryem has served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2004 [1].

"I am disappointed I did not return to cabinet," Oryem said [2].

Despite the exclusion from the new cabinet lineup, Oryem indicated that he does not intend to distance himself from public service. He maintained a cooperative tone toward the presidency while acknowledging the setback of the reshuffle.

"I remain ready to serve in any other capacity," Oryem said [3].

President Museveni's reshuffles often serve as a mechanism to refresh the leadership team or reward regional political alliances. The decision to drop Oryem marks the end of a tenure that spanned multiple government cycles—a rarity in the volatile nature of cabinet appointments.

Oryem's departure from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs removes a veteran voice from Uganda's external relations apparatus. The government has not yet detailed the specific reasons for his exclusion or announced a permanent replacement for his previous duties.

“"I am disappointed I did not return to cabinet."”

The removal of Henry Okello Oryem, a veteran diplomat with over 20 years of experience, suggests that President Museveni may be prioritizing new blood or different political alignments over institutional continuity. In the context of Ugandan politics, such reshuffles are frequently used to maintain loyalty and prevent the consolidation of power by any single minister.