Mutende praised as a man of many traits

High Court judge Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemeire (R) consoles Ms Lydia Wanyoto, the widow of the deceased Industry minister James Mutende at the deceased’s home in Makindye Division, Kampala, yesterday.

What you need to know:

Mourned. The late minister is said to have been a meticulous NRM cadre, a technical minister and a patriot who excelled in integrity

Kampala.

Dr James Shinyabulo Mutende, the junior minister for Industry and Technology, who died at the age of 53, was one of the few highly educated ministers in President Museveni’s government. He held a PhD in economics from the New School University, USA.

He was found dead in his bed at the weekend. His death came exactly three weeks after the demise of his colleague, Gen Aronda Nyakairima, who was the minister for Internal Affairs. Gen Aronda died in his sleep aboard the passenger plane from South Korea.

Unlike Gen Aronda, a distinguished soldier turned politician, Dr Mutende was a veterinarian, economist, academic and politician.
President Museveni appointed him minister on May 27, 2011, replacing Fr Simon Lokodo, who was appointed state minister for Ethics and Integrity.

The NRM Secretary General, Ms Justin Kasule Lumumba, yesterday said the party lost “a meticulous cadre”, a technical minister and a patriot who excelled in integrity. “He was proud of his origin and culture and the people of Uganda particularly Busoga and Bugisu will miss him greatly,” Ms Lumumba said.

Those who knew Dr Mutende say, “it’s not by accident” that he was a man of “mixed traits”. He came from a family of eminent technocrats and politicians. His father, Mr Michael Mutende, was the first Ugandan town clerk of Mbale municipality (1964-1974). The late Speaker of Parliament, James Francis Wapakhabulo (1996-1998), who died in 2004, was his uncle.

Dr Mutende replaced his uncle Wapakhabulo as MP for Mbale municipality before losing the seat in 2011 to FDC’s Jack Wamanga Wamai. He was an influential member of the NRM Manifesto Committee, tasked to shape the election agenda for 2011-2016.

In later life, Dr Mutende found great happiness with Ms Lydia Wanyoto Mutende, who survives him with his children. Ms Wanyoto Mutende was a members of East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), formerly worked at the Population Secretariat and is an ardent member of NRM.

Mr Nandala Mafabi (Budadiri West) described the late as “a clean man”, who served the country with dedication and integrity. “Dr Mutende was a brother whom I got in S.3 when I was in S.1 in Mwiri. I met him in Makerere University again. He was a very good man, a fine gentleman who loved Bugisu and the people of Uganda. I will miss him,” Mr Nandala said.

One of his many friends in Parliament, Mr Emmanuel Dombo, described the late as “a charismatic leader, who enjoyed debating in Parliament, especially on matters of agriculture and animal husbandry. As a former member of NRM manifesto committee, he was influential in shaping the NRM election agenda, we shall miss him.”

Mutende brief biography

Dr Mutende was born in the eastern district of Mbale, on February 26, 1962. He went to Busoga College Mwiri, an all-boys secondary school in Jinja District.
He formerly worked as an investment officer at Uganda Investment Authority (2007 – 2009); assistant professor at New School University in the US (2003 – 2005), researcher with United National in New York (2003 – 2005); senior manager at the defunct Uganda Commercial Bank (1989 – 1994) and a teaching assistant at Makerere University (1987 – 1989).