By Jill Ainebyoona
Keith Muhankanizi, one of Makerere’s greatest alumni, will always be remembered for his immense contribution towards the university’s financial stability and the country’s economic growth.
Hon. Mwesigwa Rukutana, Muhakanizi’s longtime friend says it takes time for universities like Makerere to create irreplaceable people like Muhakanizi, who lived to see the country’s economy thrive, amidst dictatorial financial policies from the Bretton Wood institutions, the IMF and World Bank who at the time, influenced everything the economically struggling Uganda would spend on.
The late Keith Muhakanizi while appearing before Parliament during his time as Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance/ Secretary to the Treasury
In an interview with Rukutana at his law firm in Najjanankumbi, he told The Legacy that he first met Keith Muhakanizi in 1980 when he came to study for a degree in law. Keith was a year ahead of him, and was pursuing a degree in Economics.
He says he got to know Keith through Yason Mpungye, and Steven Tashobya – now a commissioner at the Electoral Commission. The trio came from Kajara County, in Ntungamo District. Mpungye was a very close friend to Keith because they were both at Ntare School where they completed their A-Level in 1978. When they met again at Makerere University, both were residents of Nkrumah Hall, along with with Tashobya.
“I used to regularly visit Mpungye, and when I met Muhakanizi, his character caught my attention, because he was so intelligent, very talkative, and very politically oriented,” recalls Rukutana.
Rukutana says he will never forget Muhakanizi during their times at Makerere in the 1980s when Museveni had just gone to the bush. Muhakanizi always told them boldly that Museveni would take over power in only two weeks, and they would all laugh at him, because Rukutana, Mpungye and Tashobya were staunch UPC supporters, but Muhakanizi supported Museveni’s Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM).
They all loved him for his outspokenness, even when no one sided with him. Though they were studying different courses at Makerere, they were casual friends and they remained close friends for over 40 years.
“Muhakanizi surprised all of us in that irrespective of his political knowledge, he was never active in leadership but spent most of his time reading books and following political developments of the country, which made him unpopular amongst other students,” says Rukutana.
Rukutana told The Legacy that he, Tashobya and Mpungye used to enjoy crude waragi, local brew and pork in Katanga, the then pride of every Makerere student. However, Muhakanizi would not follow them; still, they remained good friends. After Makerere, Muhakanizi pursued a Master’s Degree in Development Economics from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom.
The friendship grew even more when Rukutana was appointed Minister of State for Finance in 2001 and met with Muhakanizi in the ministry, where he was serving as the director of economic affairs. Muhakanizi welcomed him and guided him on what to do, although in a commanding manner. He jokingly told him that he had to rely on them as technocrats, instead of using ministerial powers if he was to succeed in his work.
Hon. Mwesigwa Rukutana, Muhakanizi's long time friend during the interview at his law firm in Najjanankumbi
Rukutana praises Muhakanizi for his efforts to revamp Uganda from being categorized as a highly indebted poor country, where every development project was to be cleared by the World Bank, even when it was Uganda’s revenue. It was a tough moment for Uganda, where the country’s budget was discussed with the World Bank until Muhakanizi’s outspokenness and the efforts of the late Emmanuel Tumusime Mutebile and Chris Kassami took the country out of the situation.
Muhakanizi always clashed with the president on several economic ideas, to the point of even giving Mutebile and him the nickname “the World Bank boys”.
“Muhakanizi was a man with a big heart, but his problem was being outspoken, which his workmates mistook for being arrogant when he openly rebuked them whenever they did anything that he deemed wrong,” added Rukutana.
Muhakanizi had Makerere at heart, and was always concerned about the university’s financial management. He would ask why it was charging low fees yet students were performing very well, which left Makerere deeply in debt, even after getting the government subventions.
He also yearned for transparency of all university accounts. Rukutana confirms that Muhakanizi contributed immensely to the university's financial management reforms, which saw all the fees paid by students directed to Uganda Revenue Authority for accountability purposes, due to mismanagement, which always crippled the university’s financial muscle.
Rukutana says the last words he heard from Muhakanizi when they last spoke were that “Education remains the pillar of economic growth and transformation for our economy.” It showed that he was a man always thinking about the future of the country.
Muhakanizi died of cancer on 13th April 2023 in Milan, Italy, at the age of 64. He was buried on 23rd April 2023 in Lyantonde. He is survived by a widow, Mrs. Janet Muhakanizi, and three children.
About Muhakanizi
24th November 1959 – Muhakanizi was born to the late Rev. Kosia Kajwengye and Zeridah Kajwengye
1965-1972 – Primary School Education at Nyabiteete Primary School in Rukungiri District
1973-1978 – Secondary Education at Ntare School
1979-1982 – Makerere University, Bachelor of Science (Economics)
1989 – Master of Science in Development Economics (University of Manchester, United Kingdom)
Positions held
1982-1988–Economist at the Microeconomic Planning division, Ministry of Finance
1995-1998– Commissioner, Economic Advisor to the Minister of Finance
2005-2013 – Deputy Secretary to the Treasury
2013 - 2021 – Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance/ Secretary to the Treasury
2021 until his death — Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister
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