Before his latest appointment, Prof Kabudi served as Minister of State in the President’s Office (Special Duties). He now takes over a key portfolio previously held by Mr Lukuvi.
Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has appointed Prof Palamagamba John Aidan Kabudi as Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament, Co-ordination and Persons with Disabilities), replacing the late William Lukuvi, in a government reshuffle announced on April 2, 2026.
The appointment takes immediate effect and follows the death of Mr Lukuvi, who was also the Member of Parliament for Isimani.
President Hassan said he passed away on the morning of Wednesday, March 25, 2026, while receiving treatment in Dodoma.
An official statement issued by the State House Communications Directorate said the changes form part of a broader set of appointments and transfers affecting senior government officials.
Before his latest appointment, Prof Kabudi served as Minister of State in the President’s Office (Special Duties). He now takes over a key portfolio previously held by Mr Lukuvi.
In the same reshuffle, the government revoked the appointment of the Director General of the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (Ewura), Mr James Andilile Mwainyekule, assigning him to other duties shortly after the regulator announced a sharp rise in fuel prices for April 2026.
The adjustments saw petrol increase to Sh3,820 per litre from Sh2,864 in March, while diesel rose to Sh3,806 from Sh2,858, highlighting mounting pressure from global oil market shocks.
Also affected, Mr Reuben Nhamanilo Kwagilwa was transferred from the Prime Minister’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government—RALG) to become Deputy Minister in the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment).
Meanwhile, Mr Festo John Dugange was moved from the Vice President’s Office to serve as Deputy Minister in RALG, where he will handle education matters.
The statement also named Ambassador Ali Jaber Mwadini as Secretary to the President.
Further changes saw former East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) member Ms Angela Kizigha and Dr Eveline Wilbard Munisi appointed Members of Parliament, while Mr Said Othman Yakub was named Ambassador to France.
“The swearing-in ceremony for the appointees will take place on a date to be announced,” said the statement signed by the Director of Presidential Communications, Mr Bakari Machumu.
