President Museveni on Thursday appointed events promoter and sworn member of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Balaam Barugahara as state minister for Gender, Labour and social development in charge of youth.
In the reshuffle, Mr Museveni who said he had made ‘slight’ amendments will have a new Principal Private Secretary (PPS) and a deputy.He has retained Jesca Alupo as Vice president, Robinah Nabbanja as Prime Minister, Kadaga as 1st Deputy Prime Minister, Moses Ali as 2nd Deputy Prime Minister, and Lukia Isanga Nakadama as 3rd Deputy Prime minister.
The president also retained his wife Janet Kataha museveni as the minister of education, Miriam Doka Babalanda as Minister for Presidency, Gen Jim Muhwezi as Minister for Security and Hajjat Minsa Kabanda as Minister for Kampala.The others that the president has retained in his cabinet include Justine Lumuma Kasule as Minister for General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hamson Obua as Government Chief Whip, Frank Tumwebaze as Minister of Agriculture, Norbert Mao as Minister for Constitutional Affairs and Kilyowa Kiwanuka as Attorney General.
Matia Kasaija remains as minister of finance, planning and economic development, Jeje Odongo also retained as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ruth Nankabirwa retained in the Energy and Mineral Development and Chris Baryomunsi also remains in the ICT ministry.
The president has however dropped Mary Goretti Kitutu from Karamoja Affairs and replaced her with Peter Lokeris.
Who Is Minister Balaam?
Balaam Barugahara also known as Balaam, is a politician, businessman, and promoter of music and events in Uganda. He serves as the CEO of the South Sudanese and Ugandan conglomerate Balaam Group of Companies.
His primary investment interests are in manufacturing, real estate, entertainment, broadcasting, hotels, and resorts.Balaam Barugahara is an advocate of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) political party. He also endorses and supports General Muhoozi Kainerugaba as the next president of the Republic of Uganda.
Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi was born on July 28, 1979, in Masindi District to Gladesi Byenkya Abwooli of Kalisizo District in Central Buganda, and the late Engineer David Balaam Byenkya Akiiki of Kijura. He is the fifth child among 14 children. His father passed away when he was at a tender age in 1991. He is a Munyoro by tribe.
Balaam Barugahara is not married however; he was in a relationship where he had a son whom he later regrettably lost to Cancer in 2013. Balaam is also a father to Benta Karuhanga Abwooli, Biden Kamusiime Amooti, Brennan Kamukama Akiiki and Bennette Tumusiime Amooti.
During an interview in November 2023, he was quoted saying that he hopes to marry a Dinka, a Karamojong, an Acholi, and a Munyakole. He would love to marry four women in a bid “to balance Uganda.”
In 2022, Joseph Tamale Mirundi warned Balaam Barugahara to leave his son Tamale Mirundi Jnr alone.According to him, Balaam was attempting to pay his son Shs50 million so that he would leave the People Power movement for the ruling NRM party.
Balaam Barugahara was treated with contempt in June 2019 due to his attire during Patrick Salvador’s introduction ceremony. Rather than wearing a coat and kanzu like most of the other male attendees, Balaam wore his signature orange t-shirt and black trousers to the introduction ceremony.
In defence of himself, Balaam claimed that the informal dress code was necessary because he had to run between Mityana and Namugongo to attend his friend’s happy day and was coordinating organizations for Martyrs Day events the following day.Balaam also stated that he is unaffected by the criticism since both events were a huge success.
