Kisamba Mugerwa: the family man, politician and economist

On July 5, as Dr Wilberforce Kisamba Mugerwa toasted to his 70th birthday, a look of contentment played on his face.

As he cut the cake, surrounded by family and friends at his country home in Kikonda, Bamunanika County, Luweero District, Dr Mugerwa said he does not regret retiring from politics. “I had accomplished my mission and had to concentrate on family and other assignments,” he said.

For the last 44 years, Dr Mugerwa has been serving the country in different capacitites.

Journey to the past
He attended a number of schools in his childhood including Muyembe Tree Nursery in Bamunanika, Wampewo Junior Primary School, Mukono Bishops Senior Secondary School and Kololo High School where he sat his A-Level.

He joined Makerere College in 1968 to pursue a degree in agricultural ecoomics.

After this, he went on to serve government in different capacities. In 1971, he served as principal agriculture officer East Mengo, western region and later elevated to principal agriculture economist. It was then that Mugerwa ventured into politics.

In 1980, he contested for Member of Parliament, on the Democratic Party ticket, to represent Luweero South East. The political atmosphere at the time was tense. “It was so tense that during one of the campaign rallies in Migyera Town I was shot in the left arm.”

He adds, “I am glad I survived but the bullet scar reminds me of those dark days.” The attempt on his life, however, did not deter his ambition to pursue politics.

“I won the election and joined Parliament as a strong DP supporter. We gave it all we could to build and strengthen DP amidst all threats from UPC politicians.”

This resilience is what laid the foundation for Mugerwa to become the first Local Council 5 chairman for Luweero District when the National Resistance Movement took over government in 1986.
“I served in that position for one term (five years) before joining Parliament as MP for Bamunanika County.”

While serving as Agriculture minister, Mugerwa decided to step down for an international job.

“I quit politics in 2004 as a satisfied man because my long time objective of participating in democratic elective politics had been realised. I craved to have a stable Uganda where we could freely engage in democratic elective politics,” Mugerwa says.

What others say
As a research fellow, Mugerwa also worked at the Institute of Social Research Makerere University.
Dr Khiddu Makubuya, Member of Parliament Katikamu South, says working with Mugerwa opened doors for them to bond outside the work environment.

Makubuya worked with Mugerwa on land research project in the late 1980s at the Institute of social research Makerere University.

“When I joined local politics as a district councillor representing Makulubita Sub-county, my intention was to remain at that level but Kisamba who had been elected LC5 chairman Luweero appointed me as his secretary for finance at the district council.

“Unlike other people who forget their history, Kisamba has kept pace balancing family life, politics, academics and career,” Makubuya says.
Gerald Ssendaula, former finance minister, and also a close friend to Mugerwa says he is one of a kind. “He is rare breed of politician. He is loyal and hardworking to the extent of risking his own life and family.”

I still have a lot to offer
Mugerwa who retired from elective politics in 2004 says stepping down from elective politics does not mean lack of interest.
“I actively participate in the electoral process because I have to make a choice on leaders at the different levels in my community, parliament and presidency.”

In the countryside
In Kikonda Village, Bamunanika Sub-county, Kisamba has a farm stocked with goats and cattle.

“As an agricultural economist it would be futile if I failed to utilise the agricultural knowledge for development purposes. This is the reason why I practice farming,” Mugerwa asserts.

Life as Entandikwa minister

As State Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Mugerwa was in charge of rolling out a fund targeting Uganda’s population that could not get credit from commercial banks.

According to Mugerwa, the fund had good intentions however it suffered a major setback after several low income earners, who were beneficiaries, mistook the initiative as a gift from the president.

“Many of the beneficiary groups and individuals defaulted on repayment. The situation became worse when President Museveni restrained us from prosecuting defaulters.

The “Entandikwa” revolving funds, were rolled out between 1994 and 2002, however the programme was grossly abused by a population which believes in handouts, Mugerwa says.

“The Entandikwa revolving fund was a presidential initiative and not my programme. The president just entrusted me as State Minister to oversee the project. I have overseen several projects although many people are quick to refer to the Entadikwa simply because it was the first major government intervention to give capital to low-income earners.

Factfile
He is the executive chairperson, National Planning Authority and serves as the Chancellor Ndejje University.

Prior to that, he was the irector of IFPRI’s division in Addis Ababa since 2004. He was the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries for five years; he has also served Uganda as Minister of State, Minister of State for Finance and Economic Planning, and as Minister without Portfolio in the Prime Minister’s Office.

He has also served as a Member of Parliament and a senior research associate with the Makerere Institute of Social Research, Makerere University in Kampala.