Parliament on Thursday gave overwhelming approval to the appointment of Jessica Rose Alupo Epel as Uganda’s Vice President, following her nomination by President Yoweri Museveni earlier this week.
Alupo, who will now serve a second term in the position, becomes only the second woman in Uganda’s history to hold the Vice Presidency after Specioza Wandera Kazibwe.
The approval motion was tabled by veteran legislator Professor Ephraim Kamuntu, who described Alupo as a disciplined, experienced and patriotic public servant with a long record in both government and military service.
The Katakwi District Woman MP was nominated by President Museveni on Tuesday, alongside other key appointments in the new administration.
Parliament was fully packed as the 12th House conducted one of its earliest major assignments since MPs took their oaths. The sitting was chaired by newly elected Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth, who oversaw proceedings during the high-profile approvals. Lawmakers also confirmed Robinah Nabbanja as Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business.
While presenting the motion, Kamuntu praised Alupo as a humble and result-driven leader, adding that she had consistently demonstrated commitment to national service. He noted her ongoing academic pursuit of a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies at Makerere University, alongside honorary doctorates awarded by institutions including the Islamic University in Uganda and a university in China.
He also highlighted her academic background, which includes a Master’s degree from the Uganda Management Institute and a Bachelor’s degree from Makerere University.
Kamuntu further reminded the House of Alupo’s military service in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, where she retired at the rank of Major. Her long political career, he said, spans service in the 8th, 9th, 11th and now 12th Parliament.
He added that she had previously held ministerial positions, including Minister of State for Youth and Minister of Education and Sports, among others, and had built a reputation as a consistent performer in public office.
The motion received strong backing from MPs, including Minister Kabanda, who seconded it and pointed to her military discipline and resilience as key strengths that would support her continued leadership at national level.
Omoro District Woman MP Catherine Lamwaka also supported the nomination, describing Alupo as a principled and faith-driven leader with a long record of service in Parliament and government.
Soroti City West MP David Calvin Echodu added that Alupo’s leadership style, marked by humility and teamwork, made her well suited for the role, saying her approval reflected continuity in service delivery.
For the vote, Speaker Oboth-Oboth departed from the usual voice voting method and instead ordered a division of the House, with MPs voting by show of hands row by row.
At the end of the process, 325 MPs supported the appointment, 18 opposed it, and four abstained.
In the same sitting, Parliament also approved Robinah Nabbanja’s continued service as Prime Minister. The motion was moved by Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, who commended Nabbanja’s extensive experience in public administration and government leadership.
Aceng outlined Nabbanja’s past roles, including her previous tenure as Prime Minister, her service as Minister of State for Health (General Duties), Parliamentary Commissioner in the 10th Parliament, Resident District Commissioner, and her long representation of Kakumiro District since 2011.
She further cited government performance indicators during Nabbanja’s leadership, including high rates of legislative business handled in Parliament, noting strong delivery across bills, motions, ministerial statements and responses.
Esther Anyakun, the Nakapiripirit District Woman MP, seconded the motion, describing Nabbanja as a seasoned administrator and the first woman to serve as Uganda’s Prime Minister.
The approvals formally clear the two leaders to assume office under the new government structure announced by President Museveni.
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