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Ruhakana Rugunda new Prime Minister [New Vision (Uganda)](New Vision (Uganda) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) By Vision ReporterHealth minister Ruhakana Rugunda has been appointed Prime Minister of Uganda. He will replace Amama Mbabazi who has been the premier after the 2011 general election. "I thank His Excellency for giving me this responsibility. I also thank Ndugu Amama Mbabazi for very good work as Prime Minister," Rugunda said. "I have served and I am ready to serve. My priority is to consolidate the achievements of government & focus on implementation of the manifesto and all Government plus party programmes that will lead to transformation of Uganda."(Scroll down the page to read Mbabazi's road to becoming Prime Minister) President Yoweri Museven has forwarded Rugunda's name to the Speaker Rebecca Kadaga for parliamentary approval. Who is Ruhakana Rugunda?(Article published in New Vision – September 07, 2012) Here, Rugunda appears in a talk show at Vision Group's Vision Voice (now Xfm) in January 2009. PHOTO/Ronnie Kijjambu Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, one of the longest serving ministers in the NRM government and was chief negotiator in the botched LRA peace talks. There are men, and there are extraordinary men. Ruhakana Rugunda fits both bills, embodying all virtues of humanity; humility, simplicity, honesty and tranquillity. Those close to him nick-named him 'Nduggu', Swahili for brother. Aggrey Awori, a former cabinet minister and long-time friend, describes Rugunda as a peaceful, forth-right person and a thinker. "He is not up to intrigue and tolerates virtually everybody. Ideologically, I have never differed with Rugunda," he says. "But, when you are off-track, he politely tells you off!" Rugunda has also heeded national calls, variously serving Uganda and Africa as a parent, students' leader, physician, messenger of peace, minister and Uganda's envoy to the UN, amongst others. "He is sincere, honest and a man devoted to the right cause," says Sam Njuba, a former cabinet colleague with the opposition Forum for Democratic Change. Then-Internal Affairs minister Ruhakana Rugunda with the Commissioner General of Prisons Dr Johnson Byabashaija after commissioning the Nakasongola Prison on October 7th, 2007 Achievements Alongside Francis Omaswa (Professor), Sam Kuteesa and Okello Oculi, among others, Rugunda was significant in the formation of the National Union of Students of Uganda, a politically vibrant youth movement which he also led (1970-71). Rugunda created a platform where students got closer with the Obote I regime. "Rugunda was one of the young people Obote liked so much and with whom he often discussed national issues. I am happy he succeeded me as minister of ICT," Awori adds. Together with his Makerere University comrades, Omwony Ojwok, Tumusiime Mutebile, Amama Mbabazi and Tim Lwanga, Rugunda also played a key role in the formation of Front for National Salvation (FRONASA), alongside Yoweri Museveni (current president), Nuwe Amanya Mushega and Eriya Kategaya. FRONASA, a rebel outfit, fought alongside Kikosi Maalum and Tanzanian forces to liberate Uganda from the brutal Idi Amin regime; overthrowing it in 1979. Because of his calm nature he was a natural choice to lead the government delegation to the LRA peace negotiations. While critics say the Kony talks failed others think otherwise. "We reached an agreement on all issues, but when time came for Kony to sign the agreement, he chickened out. President Museveni had also travelled to sign it!" Rugunda says. "The talks didn't fail totally, because an agreement was reached, although not signed," says Dr. Aaron Mukwaya, a political scientist and pundit. "The issue is both parties didn't want to reach an agreement of any sort. Both wanted, and still want, to have victory militarily. I doubt there is any enthusiasm to have Kony killed due to weaponry and logistics benefit by the army," Mukwaya says. Left to right, US Ambassador to Uganda Scott Delisi, Health Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda and First Lady and Minister for Karamoja affairs at the EMTCT Launch in Moroto. Rugunda, nevertheless, defends the military offensives, which, he argues, were paramount. "There were some aspects of the peace talks that could be depicted as 'peace jokes'," he says. "But it was right that we use both military and peaceful means to end the LRA's banditry and heinous crimes against humanity meted on Ugandans and Sudanese. LRA wanted to take over power using the most brutal ways but met a resilient UPDF". After the Kony assignment, Rugunda was appointed Uganda's representative to the UN and a member of the Security Council, charged with overseeing international peace and security in July 2009 and October 2010. The council has five permanent members of the UN, including Russia, USA, UK, France and China as well as 10 elected members. "I was responsible not just for championing Uganda's cause, but also Africa's, coordinating with Nigeria and Libya," says Rugunda. "Since then, Uganda was, is and continues to play a critical role in regional and international security and peace, helping Africa and the world to better understand Sudan, Congo and Somalia problems." Here, Rugunda, Uganda's Permanent representative to the UN Dr. Rukahana Rugunda and the NRM candidate for woman MP for Serere, Hellen Adoa Abeku waving to supporters as they arrive for a rally in Omagoro, Serere district in Feb 2011. PHOTO/Salume Among Early life As a young boy, Rugunda would often sit and read newspapers to his father Surumani Rugunda. He believes these experiences at a tender age sparked his later interest in politics. "It surprises me he didn't study economics or political science, but medicine," says Awori. Political career His political career started in 1968 when, as the Busoga College, Mwiri, Head Prefect, he first interacted with the oratory Obote, himself a former student. Soon, he again met Obote as president at a brain-storming ceremony with student leaders at the State Lodge, Entebbe. "I had a discussion with Obote and established relationships," Rugunda says. "I valued my interactions with Obote, in spite of the fact that we had differences in some issues. We didn't think he did enough to fight corruption and solve Uganda's problems. We wanted to see a government moving like 'fire' to address these issues, but this wasn't the case." The year is 1997. New Vision Editor-in-Chief William Pike talks to the Minister of Information Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda during a luncheon at Fang Fang restaurant Kampala. Right is the paper's Corporation Secretary Conrad Nkutu When Idi Amin overthrew Obote's government in 1971, Rugunda opposed the new leader. "He tried to persuade us to support him, but we remained adamant," says Rugunda. "Our position remained resolute until Amin and the Military Council banned NUSU." This forced NUSU leaders into exile with Rugunda escaping to Dar-es-Salaam, but maintaining his association with Obote and other exiles. However, on return from exile in 1979, Rugunda and other radical youths left UPC, starting Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) which would later contest the 1980 elections with Museveni as its leader. "We wanted to start a new force that would not follow religion political lines, as DP and UPC did," he points out. Obote had identified Rugunda as a vibrant young man primed for future leadership of UPC party and Uganda. October 2005: Internal affairs minister Rugunda (left) listens to Somalia's Minister of Foriegn Affairs, Sheikh Abdul Ismael during the end of the Training of trainers course for the Somalian Police at Jokker Pub Bweyogerere in Kampala. PHOTO/Ronnie Kijjambu. Work experience A professional physician, Rugunda carries with him a wealth of medical experience spanning 10 years (1975-86) within which he published six papers. He has worked as a medical officer in Zambia (1975-76), UN Institute for Namibia, Lusaka, Zambia (1976- 77), resident physician in paediatrics, USA (1978-79), deputy health minister (1979-1980) and Lecturer, Medical Training Centre, Nairobi, Kenya (1981-82). Others are; department of paediatrics, Kenyatta National Hospital (1982-84), department of tropical paediatrics university teaching hospital, Sweden (1984-85) and animal industry, game and fisheries commissioner (1986) Rugunda has also served as President of the African ministerial conference on environment (AMCEN- 2002/3), and president, governing council of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEPI- 2003/4). Others are; chairperson, Global ministerial environment forum (2003), security council working group on conflict prevention and resolution in Africa and assembly of promoters for Kabale University.Ministerial appointments Since 1986, he has served as minister of health (1986-88), works, transport and communication (1988-94), foreign affairs (1994-96), information (1996-98), Presidency (1998-2001), water, lands and environment (2001-3), internal affairs (2003-9) and Information and Communications Technology (2011-to date).Education background Born to Nora and Solomon Rugunda in Bugongi, Kabale in November, 1947. He went to Rwere Primary School, Kigezi High School and Busoga College Mwiri, Makerere University, University of Zambia and the University of California and Berkeley graduating with a master's in public health. He is married to Jocelyn, have four boys and three grand children. ****************Amama Mbabazi's road to Prime Minister By Cyprian Musoke (written in 2011) Born on January 16, 1949 in Mparo, Kigezi, Amama Mbabazi holds a Law (LLB) Degree from Makerere University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre. He is an advocate of the Courts of Judicature of Uganda and a member of the Uganda Law Society. Professionally, Mbabazi worked as State Attorney in the Attorney General's Chambers from 1976-1978 and while there, he quickly rose to become the Secretary of the Uganda Law Council between 1977 and 1979. After the fall of Idi Amin, he became the director of legal services of the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA). He then fled to exile in 1981 where he set up the external committee for what later became the National Resistance Movement (NRM). When President Yoweri Museveni took over power in 1986, Mbabazi was appointed the boss to the External Security Organisation, a post he held from 1986 to 1992 while at the same time a member of the NRC. Since 1992, Mbabazi has held various political posts, which include Minister of State for Defence 1992 to 1998 and Minister of State for Regional Cooperation 1998-2001. He is still the Member of Parliament for Kinkizi West after winning the 2011 parliamentary elections. He previously held the portfolios of Minister of State in the President's office in-charge of Political Affairs, among others. His early involvement in politics dates back to the late 1960s when he was part of a group with people like Ruhakana Rugunda, Kisimba Masiko and others. They formed a group of leftist-leaning students at a time when Rugunda was campaigning to head the National Union of Students of Uganda. When Amin took over power in April 1971, they formed a clandestine movement and linked up with activists like Tumusiime Mutebile, Prof. Dan Nabudere and Edward Rugumayo to start Amin's ouster. In one incident in which they once went to a cocktail at the Germany Embassy, they met Wanume Kibedi who was Amin's foreign affairs minister. They tried to persuade him not to work with Amin but the way Wanume responded, they realised he was Amin's strong man and that they had given themselves in. Here, Mbabazi inspects the hydro-power dam at Bujagali in 2012 So, they ran and hid at Rugumayo's place, while Mutebile and others fled the country. But Mbabazi remained in the country. While most of the group left the country, Mbabazi and Kahinda Otafiire were the only two left. It is at about this time that Amama became State Attorney and lay low but continued communicating with colleagues in Tanzania. In 1974-75, he made links with Museveni and they have since been close sharing information while mobilising the anti-Amin war. Amama had established good contacts within Amin's State Research Bureau. His wife became a telephone operator communicating with Museveni using a false name. In 1976, there was an attempt in Zambia to unite Uganda Liberation strugglers. The group preferred Col. Zed Maruru to lead the liberation, while Museveni and Amama, who represented FRONASA insisted on Museveni. This effort failed. People like Rugunda, Eriya Kategaya, and Prince Barigye who were part of the leaders of the group, came back and in a short time, the war against Amin started. Amama became the local contact of the struggle and as soon as they arrived in Kampala, he was put in charge of the Western Axis front of FRONASA. Soon after, Museveni appointed him Secretary of the UNLA. NRM Secretary General Amama Mbabazi addressing delegates at Namboole. PHOTO/Enock Kakande From 1978-79, Mbabazi worked as Museveni's Principal Assistant and as the 1980 elections neared, it became evident that there would be another armed struggle. Amama was tasked to meet with other groups like Kayiira's for the next struggle, but they disagreed over the methods of struggle because Kayiira wanted to organise uprisings in Kampala as opposed to the Museveni option of a guerilla war. Mbabazi's active involvement in the NRA struggle starts on the eve of the attack on Kabamba, when he was sent to Kabamba to meet with officers who had contacts with the guerillas to inform them that the attack on Kabamba would take place the next day. When the attack took place, all the officers who were rumoured to have met with Mbabazi were executed. The only survivor was Gen. Jeje Odong because he was a cousin to Peter Otai, who was then State Minister for Defence and an Obote loyalist. On February 8, Amama fled the country to exile and adopted the false name of Dr. Kalyaburo. His stay in exile in Nairobi became untenable and he was relocated to Sweden together with Rugunda and Museveni's family, with the assistance of Miriam Black, Uganda's current ambassador to Netherlands. Mbabazi meets players of the Uganda national football team at Namboole stadium They came back after the struggle and Mbabazi set up the intelligence system. He was later appointed Minister of Foreign affairs and Secretary to the NRM caucus in the Constituent Assembly. He then worked as Minister for the Presidency and was the first substantive defense minister in the history of the National Resistance Movement. Mbabazi has since been the first Secretary General of the NRM, a post he has been juggling together with that of security minister. He has dutifully stood by his master without asking questions and executed his duties brilliantly, always mindful of the appointing authority's profile against a rising tide of negative publicity by the opposition. Mbabazi is not without ambition himself having famously rebuked Forum for Democratic Change leader Col. Kizza Besigye that he had jumped the queue of presidential aspirants in 2001. The attack gave an impression that Mbabazi was probably ahead of Besigye in the queue. It was hard to tell at that time whether he was the second or third, but remained quite at the front and waited out for his time. At one time, his role in the Government saw him handle the affairs of over three ministries earning him the title, "super minister". At that time he was defence minister, Attorney general and constantly showed up at the ministries of internal and foreign affairs. Some would say his current assignment is intended to enhance his profile and cultivate public confidence in him, an indicator that he would be one of the President's preferred successors come 2016. COPYRIGHT (c) 2014 NEWVISION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info). |