KAMPALA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Saturday reshuffled his cabinet dropping some ministers and appointing new ones.

Museveni in a statement issued by State House here maintained most of the ministers. He also maintained the vice president, prime minister, ministers of defense and foreign affairs, and minister of finance among others.

The president reassigned some ministers to other portfolios.

The president appointed Kahinda Otafiire as minister of east African affairs removing him from the position of minister of justice and constitutional affairs.

Ephraim Kamuntu has taken over as the justice minister after being moved from tourism ministry.

Museveni changed the minister of energy and mineral development, minister of local government, minister of works, minister of lands, housing and urban development, minister of Kampala and Metropolitan affairs.

The minister of gender, labor and social affairs, and the minister of information, communication and technology, among others were also changed.

The reshuffle came as Museveni prepared for the 2021 elections. Museveni last made a reshuffle in March 2018 when he fired Henry Tumukunde as security minister replacing him with Elly Tumwine.