By Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu,
NATIONAL
Former Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance, PSST Keith Muhakanizi is dead, family source confirmed.
A family member has revealed to Parrots UG that Muhakanizi passed on in a hospital in Milan Italy where he had gone to seek treatment having battled cancer for some good time. This was later confirmed by his long time friend Gen Henry Tumukunde who also hails from Kitojo Buyanja Rukungiri.
At the time of his demise, Muhakanizi has been the permanent secretary in the prime minister’s office.
Muhakanizi has been instrumental in Macroeconomics policy and planning, financial sector growth and private sector growth in the country and has served in various departments at the Ministry for years.
Muhakanizi served as a member on Boards of numerous organizations. In addition to being the chairperson of the EPRC Board of Management, he served as the Chairman of East African Development Bank since May 25, 2013.
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Keith Muhakanizi was born in Rukungiri District to the late Rev. Kosia Kajwengye and the late Zeridah Kajwengye. He was born to a family of 7 children, 4 boys and 3 girls.
Muhakanizi’s mother was a very kind and ardent religious woman while his father Kajwengye pioneered evangelism in Rujumbura that later spread throughout East Africa.
In addition, they also taught families about the cleanliness of their families and personal hygiene, built schools, health centers as well as pioneering the best methods of farming in the region.
WORK AND EXPERIENCE
Muhakanizi has been the permanent secretary in the prime minister’s office at the time of his demise.
He also worked as the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance after assuming office from Chris Kassami.
Mr Keith Muhakanizi was both an ardent Development and Macro- Economist, and a Public Sector Management Specialist with thirty-nine years experience in Government, rising from an Economist to his present position as Permanent Secretary in the prime minister’s office.
In the 1990s, he played a central role in the formulation and implementation of economic reforms that restored the macro-economic stability of Uganda’s economy.
Muhakanizi guided both the technical and policy development work in the preparation of successive National Development Plans.
More policy reforms and enhancing public financial management to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of public resource use to promote enhanced domestic resource mobilization.
Muhakanizi has also been a board chairman of National Housing and Construction Company and a member of numerous other boards.
Muhakanizi served as Board Member, Bank of Uganda and Chairperson Housing Finance Bank Limited, Uganda.
Muhakanizi was also the Chairperson/Ex-official Member of the EPRC Board of management. He’s a former Director Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Finance and former Secretary to Treasury at the Finance Ministry.
Keith Muhakanizi received credits for his contribution towards Uganda’s economic growth figures over the years. (RIP)
