The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Parliament is divided over a proposal to buy a house or have the family of Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, the late governor of Bank of Uganda (BoU), retain their residence in Kololo.
The Bukooli Central MP, Solomon Silwany tabled the proposal on the floor of parliament as the House debated a motion by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, to pay tribute to the longest-serving BoU Governor.
Parliament passed a motion (with the amendment), to pay tribute to the former Governor Mutebile
Mutebile, 72, succumbed to diabetes and related complications on January Sunday 23rd, 2022 at Nairobi Hospital in Kenya where he was admitted on December 31, 2021. The former governor has been in and out of the hospital in recent years mainly in Uganda and India due to diabetic-related sicknesses, which led to his kidney failure.
Mutebile, a seasoned economist served as Governor and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Uganda from 2001. He had just started a new term of office following his reappointment in 2021. He previously served as secretary to the treasury from 1992 to 2001 when he was appointed governor.
In his proposal, Silwany, who doubles as a Parliamentary Commissioner suggested an amendment to Nabbanja’s motion, saying that government or BoU gets an appropriate property for the family of the late Mutebile. The late governor has been occupied his official residence in Kololo while his upcountry home is in Kabale.
“This property or home should be for the family led by the widow. It is known knowledge that the late Professor was a very honest man and by the fact that he was Governor Bank of Uganda for a very long time, as we talk today, the family may not have where to go,” said Silwany.
He explained that Mutebile did not amass a lot of wealth like other people who would take advantage of their positions like being a Governor.
When the Deputy Speaker, Anita Among asked whether the amendment by Silwany was seconded, a section of legislators from mainly the Opposition responded in the negative.
This prompted her to inform the House that she attended a vigil at the official residence of the late Governor on Wednesday in Kololo where the widow hinted on having no home.
Barnabas Tinkasimire, the Buyaga West MP then took to the floor and expressed support for Silwany’s proposal. He justified his decision, saying that he had visited the late Governor in June last year and he learnt that the Kololo home is only the official residence provided by the Central Bank.
Robinah Nabbanja, the Prime Minister said that she had taken note of the concerns by the MPs and requested parliament to allow her to consult and report back on their next course of action.
Francis Zaake, the Mityana Municipality MP rose on a procedural matter, saying that the motion by Silwany had not been supported by himself or the whole House. Among then said that the motion can be put to vote if that is what Zaake and the parliamentary commissioner want.
Medard Lubega Sseggona, the Busiro East MP proposed another amendment, saying that the government follows up as per the undertaking of the Prime Minister promise and report to back parliament in subsequent sittings on the steps taken.
In her motion, Nabbanja described Mutebile as a distinguished career and a diligent leader who immeasurably served Uganda with dedication and patriotism. She also commended Mutebile for having participated in shaping the destiny of Uganda through the modernization of Uganda’s financial sector, designing and implementing economic and fiscal reform programs that have restored Uganda’s economy.
Mathias Mpuuga, the Leader of Opposition, said that the passing of Mutebile marks an end of an era- of someone in that generation who participated in nation and institution-building from the time when over 85% of Ugandans currently in the country were not yet born.
“That distinction falls on a select few who get that rare once-only opportunity to help set up institutions during and after the birth of a nation. Dr. Mutebile was a fortunate man. He was the right man with the right credentials who rose on account of his competence that helped cushion our economy from a state of near-collapse in the early 1990s to one where our people can only try to survive on basics of life,” said Mpuuga.
He however said that the decorated economist has passed on and left behind leaders who are selling the Parish Development Model as a miracle economic transformational tool that will uplift the poor citizens from poverty to prosperity.
The Nyendo-Mukungwe MP appealed to parliament to ensure that senior citizens who have served Uganda with distinguished honor retire honorably and enjoy many more years in retirement. “This House owes our senior citizens a law that bars men and women who have reached retirement age from continued stress of public service,” Mpuuga said.
He added that the practice of seeking specialized medical care in neighboring countries is very unfair to millions of Uganda citizens who entrusted leaders with the privilege of leadership to fix the broken health system.
A national funeral service for the late Governor is scheduled for Friday at Kololo Independence Grounds followed by burial on Sunday 30th at Rugarama, Kabale.
If it has been over 20 years of service. I appreciate the work done but for the primitive that Mutebile has always recieved salary in time.. That’s already enough and he would have used that money for his family needs. So Uganda government ain’t responsible for Mutebiles self neglect because his salary could support all his needs before death
To add on, the widow should cater for her own as other citizen are doing. So we ain’t for her necessities and we demand respect to the prevailing official residence as we still wait for the coming governor. It’s a government property not a sole proprietorship
For her to bring up this of all matters, so soon after the demise of the deceased, even before he is buried, suggests thas that she is scared of leaving the comforts of high living and “kunaga amabara” by joining the hustle and struggle of the common man’s day-to-day living. “high” things for 21+ years have spoiled her! Otherwise, with all that salary and those benefits that the man has been earning how can she claim to be homeless? Even people who have never earned a fraction of what he earned in a month have put up a structure for their families in the very expensive city! A man who worked in senior positions as PS/ST and Governor of the central bank, how does your wife beg like this even before you are buried? Ashaming just!
Government should build a memorial house at his village.
Yiiyi! Mrs. Betty Mutebile, we were not a part of your marriage and not privy to the details of your financial matters as the general (taxpaying) public. BUT 1. Your husband was a very highly qualified economist who worked in ALL Spheres of financial management including PLANNING! Even if he himself planned to die in office, HOW could he have failed to plan for his family that he leaves behind? Estate planning and planning for retirement or life after the office job is NOT corruption. Your husband’s predecessor and Ministry of Finance, Mr. James Kahoza was also known to be a very very transparent, and very incorruptible professional. BUT Mr. Kahoza built himself an albeit simple house to retire into after public service and did not make ask to be granted the favor of retiring with public property. 2. If those who had held that position of governor of BOU had asked to be given the house after leaving office mbu because they were too busy doing an honest job to plan for the life after office, what would you have found to live as the governor’s family? If everyone left the public service position they hold with the property of the government, where would our country be? If those who came before you had taken that house, where would you have lived these past 21 years? 3. It is a very well-known fact that your late husband’s health has been declining over the past few years, while his death is sad, it is not entirely a shock to anyone. You were by his side through all his 21+ years as governor, or so you tell us. Really, could you not see what was coming and plan for it as the wife and partner? Did you all expect to die the same day? Where were you as the wife and what were you doing to plan for the rest of your family after your husband’s demise? 4. When you introduced your family to the mourners at the vigil, everyone you mentioned was an adult who was married and some even with kids; why do these adults need to be provided for housing in Kampala? Let them all go and work like all other people and struggle as we all do. You as the widow, take your husband’s savings and death benefits and plan for yourself where you will live your life after your husband’s demise. That is life. 5. To bring up this request so publically and so soon after the death of your husband before his body is even buried is quite embarrassing. If you had to AT ALL (which I do not support) you should have made your case quietly to the powers that be at an opportune time without ashaming the deceased like this. If you know anything about the history ofo Uganda, people who were part of the Idi Amin and Obote regimes were ridiculed for enjoying public offices and their benefits without planning for life after and were left as paupers when “things ended” for them. Mr. Mutebile has been a very highly revered man in many circles both at home and abroad. But he was human and may have fallen short in some aspects of his personal life. Those such things should be addressed with discrete dignity in order not to embarrass the deceased like this even before you have buried him!
To me, the way out for such matters, is for our parliament to put in place the necessary and relevant legal procedures in time (the time is now) so as to avoid arbitrary and adhoc actions. I have for example been wondering: who gets a state funeral? And what does a state funeral entail? Etc etc.
Interesting! A man with planning skills and economics that works, with a huge pay cheque + allowances and 21+ years of earning didn’t have a house here in the city? Nedda neda mama Betty please help the country and relocate to kigezi. Let the economist rest well
That is madness. You are rich enough to sustain your self unless if you want to steal. Leave those things for others also instead of being greedy.