For more than four decades, Hajji Yunus Kakande has worked within Uganda's public service, spending much of his career in the administrative machinery of the Presidency, where he has risen through the ranks to become one of the longest-serving senior officials in President Yoweri Museveni's government.
His latest retention in the November 9, 2026 Cabinet and public service reshuffle underscores the continuity of his role at the Office of the President, where he serves as Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Presidency.
Unlike political figures whose influence is exercised through public appearances and political mobilisation, Kakande's responsibilities are largely administrative, placing him at the centre of the systems through which the Presidency coordinates its operations across government and the country.
As the chief accounting officer and administrative head of the Office of the President, he oversees its operations, including the administration of Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), Resident City Commissioners (RCCs) and presidential advisers.
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His office handles administrative matters relating to their appointments, deployment, facilitation and remuneration, making it an important link between the Presidency and its representatives across the country.
The office also participates in the appointment of administrators up to the level of undersecretary across government ministries and oversees the Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs.
Kakande's rise to the position is the culmination of a career largely built within the Office of the President.
He joined the institution in 1993 after serving at the Ministry of Social Services and Welfare. His first assignment was as Senior Assistant Secretary in charge of Luweero Triangle Operations, before rising to Principal Assistant Secretary, with responsibilities covering RDCs, presidential advisers and logistics.
In December 2004, he was promoted to Undersecretary, another milestone in his progression through the public service hierarchy.
He was appointed Secretary to the Office of the President in 2018, following the elevation of Deborah Katuramu to Deputy Head of Public Service.
Over the years, Kakande has maintained a relatively low public profile despite the extensive administrative responsibilities attached to his office. He is often described as a reserved administrator and mentor who has worked with and nurtured several public officers.
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His contribution to national service was recognised on January 26, 2025, when he received the Distinguished Order of the Nile Medal (Grand Commander) during the Liberation Day celebrations.
The award recognised his role in coordinating Uganda's hosting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit and the G77 and China Summit, both held in January 2024.
Beyond his administrative responsibilities, Kakande has also spoken about the standards expected of public servants and the importance of effective leadership in government.
In 2025, while closing the fifth Administrative Officers' Forum in Mbale, he urged public officers to uphold integrity, embrace mentorship and demonstrate proactive leadership in implementing government programmes, particularly the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV).
More recently, he warned that weaknesses in peace, the rule of law and accountability could undermine Uganda's ambition of achieving tenfold economic growth.
His continued retention places a spotlight on the importance of institutional experience and administrative continuity within the Presidency.
After more than 40 years in public service, Kakande remains at the centre of an office whose responsibilities extend from coordinating presidential representatives in districts and cities to managing key administrative functions across government.
His career offers a glimpse into a less visible but consequential side of government: the permanent administrative structures that keep the machinery of the Presidency running, often beyond the changing faces of political leadership.
