By Mariam Namakula
Lucy Nakyobe, the head of public service has revealed that the late Keith Muhakanizi had proposed a reshuffle in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) days before his death.
Giving her speech during his funeral that was held at the Kololo grounds on Saturday, Ms Nakyobe noted that no several times Muhakanizi had confronted and confided in her on how the OPM was at many occasions mismanaged and that unfortunately the finger prints of ministers were allover the place.
Nakyobe says, few weeks into the iron sheets scandle, Muhakanizi had reached out to her on a phone call notifying her about their recent cabinet meeting and how he had disagreed with the members
“Some of you may be wondering then, how did the iron sheets circus come up, he told me one thing, “I have been quarrelling with the top management in our cabinet meeting, the ministers are everywhere including the stores, procurement, accounts and the human resources. I have come here to report myself because if anything just know l have disagreed with the ministers today,” Nakyobe said adding that Muhakanizi had for seen warnerd the ministers about the stores and how they would eventually bring problems onto them.
“Didn’t l predict so, l warned those minsters, let them now take full responsibility for their actions. Meanwhile I have already prepared my statement that will be discussed when l return home,” Muhakanizi reportedly narrated to Nakyobe
She adds that he even went ahead and proposed a restructuring of the OPM as the office had become a center of government scandals
Nakyobe noted that they then agreed that an internal Memo be written to the cabinet upon his return proposing the restructuring.
She therefore urged that the presidents’ next reapportionment be that that will take on Muhakanizi’s legacy and follow up the matters to the note
“This office has a lot of challenges and a soft hearted person will aonly add onto them,” she concluded.
Muhakanizi was one of the longest-serving technocrats in President Yoweri Museveni’s government. He died last week at the age of 64 at a hospital in Milan, Italy after battling cancer for years.
President Museveni informed the mourners that Muhakanizi, Former Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance Chris Kasami, former bank of Uganda Governor Tumusiime Mutebile and the current Deputy Governor Bank of Uganda Michael Atingi-Ego whom he found in the system when he came to the bush were key in the minimum economic recovery, its expansion, diversification and the now new economy of science.
He noted that the young economists belonged to the thinking of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, believed in the analysis and the strategy of the IMF and the world bank and that they are the ones who advised him to merge the two ministries; that of finance and one of planning and economic development.
He emphasized that the group was so instrumental in controlling inflation by allowing the market forces to determine the price of commodities including the exchange rate and encouraging the private sector-led growth of the economy. They also cautioned him against the minimum wage with a view it would undermine the growth of the economy like Uganda that has excess manpower compared to the jobs.
“And I was persuaded by that line and that’s how I have been able to resist the pressure of the Labour unions to artificially put out the price of Labour even when we don’t have enough jobs to give them. So definitely their group contributed to our recovery, but we can do more if they also listen to our advice of structural changes,” H.E Museveni said.
The ceremony was attended by among others; His Lordship the Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, the Right Honorable Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua, Former Prime Ministers Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda and Amama Mbabazi and the NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong.
Others were ministers; Gen. Katumba Wamala (Works and Transport), Gen Jim Muhwezi (Security), Babirye Milly Babalanda (Presidency), Gen. David Muhoozi (Internal Affairs), Francis Mwebesa (Trade, Industry and Cooperatives), Hilary Onek (Disaster Preparedness), Bright Rwamirama (Animal Industry) Gen Moses Ali (2nd Deputy Prime Minister) Ruth Nankabirwa (Energy & Mineral Development) Kasule Lumumba (General duties), Henry Musaasizi (State for Finance) among others.
Muhakanizi’s body was taken to Kabula in Lyantonde district where he was laid to rest on Sunday.
