OPINION
A while ago the National Resistance Movement conducted its party nomination exercise for candidates who will vie for a myriad of political positions in the NRM party primaries preceding the national elections. Among the nominees were a number of personal friends, comrades and other youthful leaders across the country. The successful candidates will play a pivotal role in Uganda’s evolving governance.
Yet as a country braces itself for political transition, few candidates can claim the political pedigree, intellect, exposure or character-decorum that personify Ambassador Michael Katungi Mpeirwe who was recently fittingly nominated to contest in NRM primaries as a Member of Parliament for Butemba Constituency, Kyankwazi district. This is not a comparison test. Different candidates are gifted differently and will contribute to nation development differently. However, it is only those that have navigated the murky waters of Uganda’s electoral politics that understand the enormity of Uganda’s governance challenges and the requisite armor that a candidate must possess to influence and shape a governance architecture that engenders a transformative agenda.
Ambassador Katungi is one of the aspiring candidates I know that possesses the expedient political armor. I may not be close to the man but he is one of the few upcoming leaders I have carefully observed over time. From a distance, he may come off as aloof but close confidants describe him as somewhat a reserved and well-groomed person who prefers to listen attentively before offering his counsel. This is a natural trait for most of the great leaders. In fact the great Nelson Mandela in his typical humility called this trait, “a tool of learning from the very person seeking your advice”.
Another person that has closely worked with Amb. Katungi for a long time describes him as an extremely intelligent and contemplative person that chooses to focus his energy on assignments before him and rarely engages in petty or redundant media exchanges save for where he is defending his principals, Generals Kainerugaba Muhoozi or Museveni
My far-flung yet vantage observation of Katungi reveals one thing – his ability to live a largely disciplined and somewhat of a discreet life and career can be traced to his training and various high level sensitive assignments he has undertaken both as a diplomat and security expert. Besides his extensive education up to PHD level, some of his postings among others include being Deputy Head of Mission at the Uganda High Commission in Abuja-Nigeria, Head of Investigations, NRM National Chairman’s office 2015-2017), Security Logistics Officer at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Acting Head of Security and Safety Division at the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Security Officer at the East African Community in Arusha, Tanzania. He has also worked as Deputy Head, Regional Department at the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), UPDF and Command and Combat Duty, in various echelons of the UPDF.
In Government circles, Amb. Katungi is known as a very shrewd operator and mobiliser who prefers to work behind the scenes. He is also an extremely loyal carder to General Kainerugaba Muhoozi and the NRM party generally. In all his work, his colleagues say Katungi abhors corruption just like his boss in PLU, General Kainerugaba who , for all his public indictment, he is at least respected widely, for standing up to criticize the corruption and public waste associated with NRM Government.
Besides his career accomplishments, Katungi has built an extensive network in security, diplomatic and political circles in Uganda and beyond. It is these local and international networks that he has leveraged with optimal efficiency to execute his assignments seamlessly. More profoundly, he has gained invaluable experience on internal working dynamics of Government at high level. Very important experience for any political leader.
Katungi also possesses another important attribute associated with good leaders. Inspite of his unbroken loyalty to PLU and NRM, he possesses a judicious and restrained temperament shaped by his cosmopolitan training and work. In PLU, he is known to be a principal actor who executes numerous assignments for his boss with mathematical detail while avoiding any petty internal squabbles that bedevil most of Uganda’s political establishments. It is this innate ability to be tolerant to different interest groups that has turned Katungi into a shrewd diplomat and political operator that has quietly mobilized countless youths into PLU and NRM ranks.
The other remarkable quality that Katungi possesses is his deep connection with his grassroots. This may be born from his own humble upbringing. This makes it easy for him to relate with the daily struggles of wanainchi. Indeed, he is known to spend a considerable part of his free time with his people in Kyankwanzi. Kyankwazi district has one of the highest illiteracy rates among other challenges like poor road infrastructure and poverty. However, it is comforting that Butemba has an imminent and resourceful son that can leverage his extensive networks in Government and beyond to build on what he has done as a private individual and transform the lives of his people in Butemba and by extension Kyankwazi district.
Most fundamentally, Ambassador Katungi represents a crop of youthful leaders that have served this country diligently and possess the requisite experience, integrity and temperament that will be pivotal in Uganda’s transition process.
By Stuart Oramire,
The author is a lawyer and a resident of Rukungiri district
Email: stuartoramire@gmail.com
