President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has appointed Kyotera County Member of Parliament Hon. Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo as Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, adding one of Uganda’s most consequential diplomatic portfolios to an already busy political career.
The appointment was made under Article 99(1) of the Constitution, which grants the President executive authority to make such assignments. It follows the absence of a substantive Minister of Foreign Affairs, with Kasolo stepping in to oversee the docket on an acting basis.
The Appointment
The announcement came directly from the presidency, citing the constitutional provision that allows the President to assign ministerial responsibilities as circumstances require.
Kasolo’s role is acting in nature, meaning he assumes the responsibilities of the Foreign Affairs Ministry without a permanent appointment having been gazetted. The arrangement is not unusual in Ugandan governance — acting appointments are a standard mechanism for maintaining continuity in dockets when substantive holders are unavailable.
What makes this particular appointment notable is the profile of the man receiving it. Kasolo is not a backbench figure stepping into unfamiliar territory. He comes with a political standing that already places him at the centre of Uganda’s ruling party structure.
Kasolo’s Response
Shortly after the announcement, Hon. Kasolo went public with a statement that was measured, formal, and clearly aware of the weight of the assignment.
“I am profoundly honoured by the trust and confidence reposed in me by H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni through my appointment as Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs,” he said.
“I extend my sincere gratitude to His Excellency for this opportunity to serve our nation in this capacity. I remain committed to upholding Uganda’s foreign policy objectives, advancing our diplomatic engagements, and serving with integrity, professionalism, and unwavering dedication in the pursuit of our national interests.”
The statement struck the tone of someone who understands that foreign affairs is a docket watched both domestically and internationally — and who chose his words accordingly.
Who Is Haruna Kasolo?
Hon. Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo represents Kyotera County in parliament and carries a political profile that extends well beyond his constituency work.
He serves as Vice Chairperson for the Central Region — representing Buganda — on the National Resistance Movement’s Central Executive Committee, the party’s highest decision-making organ. That position alone places him among the more influential figures within Uganda’s ruling party architecture.
His elevation to the Foreign Affairs acting role now adds executive responsibility to an already prominent party and parliamentary standing. For someone operating at that level of the NRM structure, a ministerial assignment — even an acting one — represents a logical next step rather than a surprise move.
What the Foreign Affairs Docket Involves
Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for managing the country’s diplomatic relationships, coordinating with regional and international bodies, overseeing Ugandan missions abroad, and advancing the country’s foreign policy interests across trade, security, and diplomacy.
It is a portfolio that requires both institutional knowledge and political weight to navigate effectively. Uganda maintains active diplomatic relationships across the African continent and beyond, with the ministry playing a central role in engagements with bodies such as the African Union, the East African Community, and the United Nations system.
Kasolo’s pledge to uphold Uganda’s foreign policy objectives and advance diplomatic engagements signals an intention to maintain continuity rather than introduce disruption during his acting tenure.
The Significance of the Moment
Acting ministerial appointments can sometimes be read as tests — opportunities for a politician to demonstrate competence in a high-visibility role before a more permanent assignment is considered. Whether that dynamic applies here is not confirmed by the available information, and it would be speculative to draw that conclusion.
What is clear is that President Museveni has placed a trusted and senior party figure in charge of a sensitive and strategically important docket. Kasolo’s existing role on the NRM’s Central Executive Committee suggests he already operates with a level of presidential confidence that made him a credible choice for the assignment.
For Ugandans watching the country’s diplomatic direction, the appointment signals that Foreign Affairs will remain in the hands of an experienced political operator while the substantive ministerial position remains unfilled.
A Portfolio That Keeps Growing
Between his parliamentary duties representing Kyotera County, his position on the NRM’s most powerful internal committee, and now his acting ministerial role, Haruna Kasolo is carrying one of the heavier political loads in Uganda’s current governance landscape.
How he manages the Foreign Affairs docket — and for how long — remains to be seen. But the appointment itself is a clear statement of where he stands in the eyes of the presidency.
Hon. Haruna Kasolo has pledged integrity, professionalism, and dedication to Uganda’s national interests. The diplomatic community — and the Ugandan public — will be watching to see how that pledge translates into action.