Former Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba has urged President Yoweri Museveni to appoint his daughter, Natasha Museveni Karugire, as Minister of Education and Sports, arguing that First Lady Janet Museveni should step back from the role as she continues recovering from illness.
In a post shared online, Baryamureeba said the time had come for a transition at the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), where Janet Museveni has served since 2016. He said that even as the First Lady works toward full recovery, she should prioritise her health over the demands of the ministry.
“Now is the time for transition from Mama Janet to Natasha at the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES),” he wrote, adding that the First Lady should “put her life first and avoid the stressful work at the MoES.”
Baryamureeba argued that Natasha, who serves as the President’s private secretary for household affairs, is well positioned for the role because she has accompanied President Museveni on campaign trails and understands the country’s education needs. He also suggested she could be mentored by both her parents and use her position to lobby for increased funding for the education sector.
He described the proposed handover as one that would ensure seamless continuity in the education and sports sectors, calling it, in his view, one of the best successions possible for the ministry.
Janet Museveni has been recuperating since suffering a life-threatening illness on 21st March 2026. Because she has not yet resumed her ministerial duties, President Museveni appointed State Minister for Higher Education Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo as Acting Minister of Education and Sports on 25th June, a position he continues to hold pending the substantive minister’s return.
Baryamureeba’s proposal has sparked considerable debate on X, with many users questioning whether family ties should factor into public appointments. Political analyst Stella Nyanzi dismissed the proposal as possibly satirical, writing, “Satire, at its best, I hope!”
Other users pushed back more directly. Julius Kaweesi Ssengendo questioned whether relation, rather than competence, should be the benchmark for public service opportunities. A user identified as Ahmedofficial called the argument “rather simplistic,” saying he expected a more thoughtful, evidence-based analysis from a professor. Several other commenters asked why Baryamureeba was not instead advocating for a merit-based appointment process, with some suggesting the proposal sat awkwardly against his own academic credentials.
As of now, President Museveni has not publicly responded to the proposal, and Dr. Muyingo remains Acting Minister of Education and Sports.
