Uganda’s Vice President Jessica Rose Epel Alupo has risen from humble beginnings in Katakwi District to become one of the country’s most powerful political figures, serving as the second woman to occupy the country’s second-highest constitutional office. However, her political journey is now attracting renewed attention following a public confrontation with Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Born on May 23, 1974, in Katakwi District, in Uganda’s Teso sub-region, Alupo was raised by George William Epel, an educationist, and Bernadette Akol, a midwife.
Her educational journey began at Apuuton Primary School before she proceeded to Kangole Girls School and Ngora High School. Before joining the military, she reportedly trained as a school canteen attendant, an experience that forms part of the unusual story behind her eventual rise to the country’s political leadership.
Alupo joined the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in 1999 after undertaking an officer cadet course at the Uganda Junior Staff College in Jinja. During her military career, she served as an instructor at the Uganda Urban Warfare Training School in Singo, worked in military administration at Bombo and later served as an intelligence officer with the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence in Kampala.
She eventually rose to the rank of Major before retiring from active military service.
Her academic qualifications also became an important part of her professional journey. She graduated from Makerere University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Linguistics. She subsequently pursued postgraduate studies in international relations and diplomacy, as well as public administration and management. In 2015, she received an honorary doctorate from Shenyang University in China, according to published biographical accounts.
Alupo entered elective politics in 2001 when she won the Katakwi District Woman parliamentary seat on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket. She retained the constituency in the 2006 elections.
In 2009, President Yoweri Museveni appointed her State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs before promoting her to Minister of Education and Sports in 2011.
During her tenure at the Education Ministry, Alupo was associated with the implementation of the Higher Education Students Financing Scheme, commonly known as the Students’ Loan Scheme. She also supported efforts to expand access to higher education, including the establishment and development of public universities such as Muni and Kabale.
Her political fortunes suffered a setback in 2016 when she lost her parliamentary seat. However, she returned to Parliament after winning the Katakwi Woman MP election in 2021.
On June 8, 2021, Museveni appointed her Vice President, making her Uganda’s second female vice president after Dr Specioza Wandira Kazibwe, who served between 1994 and 2003.
Her appointment was subsequently approved by Parliament. On May 28, 2026, Parliament approved her reappointment for another term alongside Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja. State House Uganda +2
MUHOOZI CONFRONTATION PUTS HER POSITION UNDER SPOTLIGHT
Despite her rise through the political establishment, Alupo is now facing one of the most politically sensitive moments of her career.
On Monday evening, November 9, 2026, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba launched a series of attacks against the Vice President through his X account, questioning her loyalty and demanding that she prepare to relinquish her position.
The army chief reportedly described Alupo as a traitor, linked her to allegations surrounding retired General Peter Elwelu and revived claims about her alleged political association with former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi during the 2016 presidential election.
Muhoozi also suggested that he could assume the vice presidency and that government would operate on military terms under his leadership.
His remarks generated considerable political attention, particularly because they targeted a serving constitutional officeholder while he remains the country’s serving CDF.
By Tuesday morning, November 10, his main X account, @mkainerugaba, had become inaccessible. Neither Muhoozi nor the military had provided an official explanation for its disappearance. Alupo had also not publicly responded to the accusations at the time of reporting. Pulse Uganda +2
Importantly, Muhoozi’s social media statements do not constitute a constitutional decision to remove the Vice President.
Article 108 of Uganda’s Constitution provides that the President appoints the Vice President with Parliament’s approval. The office becomes vacant if the President revokes the appointment, or if the incumbent resigns or dies.
Consequently, Muhoozi’s demands alone cannot legally remove Alupo from office. ULII +1
Married to retired Major Innocent Tukashaba, Alupo is also described as a mother, farmer and Pan-Africanist.
Her journey from Katakwi to State House represents decades of military service, education and political advancement. But with tensions surrounding Uganda’s political succession increasingly becoming public, her latest confrontation with the army chief has placed her position under an uncomfortable national spotlight.
Whether the controversy will have consequences for her political future remains uncertain. For now, Alupo remains Uganda’s Vice President, while questions about political loyalty, military influence and the country’s leadership succession continue to dominate public debate.
