While much of the public attention surrounding government appointments focuses on ministers and permanent secretaries, some of the most strategically placed officials operate behind the scenes, coordinating the daily business of the Presidency.
One such official is Gloria Asio Omaswa, who has retained her position as President Yoweri Museveni's Principal Private Secretary (PPS) following the November 9, 2026 reshuffle of 51 permanent secretaries and other senior public service officials.
The daughter of Professor Francis Omaswa, a renowned Ugandan surgeon and global health leader who serves as Chancellor of Soroti University, her retention secures her place within the President's immediate administrative circle, where she plays a central role in coordinating his official programme, appointments and engagements.
As Principal Private Secretary, Omaswa heads the President's Private Office and Household and oversees the coordination of his daily schedule. Her responsibilities include organising presidential appointments, official visits, meetings and other engagements, as well as participating in key presidential activities, including Cabinet meetings.
Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn
The position places her at an important intersection between the President and the officials, diplomats and other stakeholders who seek appointments or have official business with him.
In practical terms, the office helps determine how the President's time is organised, which engagements are scheduled and how his official programme is coordinated.
Her responsibilities were illustrated in May 2026 when she wrote to the Minister of Tourism confirming Museveni's availability to officiate at the opening of the 10th Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) at Munyonyo.
Omaswa's professional background is somewhat different from that of many senior officials who have spent most of their careers in the public service.
She brings experience in law, strategic communication and international advertising, having built a career spanning more than two decades across East Africa, Europe and North America.
She is the daughter of renowned Ugandan surgeon Professor Francis Omaswa, who serves as Chancellor of Soroti University.
Omaswa studied law at Makerere University before pursuing a Master's degree in Communication Strategy at Virginia Commonwealth University in the United States.
She subsequently ventured into the communications and advertising industry, working with international agencies including QG Saatchi & Saatchi, ZK TBWA Kenya and The Martin Agency.
Her career exposed her to different markets and corporate communication environments, providing experience in strategic messaging, brand management and organisational leadership.
By September 2021, she had become Chief Executive of Kedajo, a strategic management and communications agency specialising in brand strategy, corporate communication and helping organisations achieve their communication objectives.
Her transition into the highest levels of government came in March 2024 when Museveni appointed her Principal Private Secretary, replacing Kenneth Omona, who was subsequently appointed Minister for Northern Uganda.
The appointment brought her communications and management experience into an office whose work requires close coordination, discretion and the management of competing demands on the President's time.
Omaswa's responsibilities have also extended into the political arena. She was among the 50 strategists selected to coordinate Museveni's 2026 election campaign.
Her assignment involved ensuring the effective daily coordination of presidential engagements, a responsibility that reflected the organisational and communication skills she had developed in the private sector.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Her retention in the November reshuffle therefore preserves continuity in one of the Presidency's key administrative offices.
Although the position does not ordinarily attract the public attention associated with Cabinet appointments, it carries significant operational responsibility. The coordination of presidential engagements connects the Head of State to government institutions, diplomatic missions, political leaders and other stakeholders.
For Omaswa, the role represents an unusual convergence of private-sector experience and proximity to the highest office in the country.
With a career spanning law, international advertising, corporate leadership and presidential administration, she remains an important figure in the machinery that organises the daily business of Museveni's Presidency.
