[2] At first, the parliamentary committee vetting cabinet appointments rejected his selection,[3] but after discussions between President Yoweri Museveni and Speaker Rebecca Kadaga,[4] he was finally approved on 7 September 2012.
[9] Following the fall of the Amin's regime in 1979, Kabwegyere was appointed minister of lands and natural resources, having that position until 1980.
Following the removal of Milton Obote from power and the overthrow of the military junta of Tito Okello, Kabwegyere became a member of the National Resistance Council, the parliamentary body in Uganda from 1986 until 1996.
He continuously represented Igara County West, Bushenyi District in the Uganda Parliament from 1996 until 2011.
In 2010, he was defeated during the primary elections by Raphael Magezi, also of the National Resistance Movement political party, the incumbent member of parliament.