Muhabwe retired to local governance

Laban Muhabwe, 53, served as a lecturer, manager and a police officer. Muhabwe worked his way through the ranks and retired at 48 years at the rank of senior commissioner of police to participate in politics. He says his decision was informed and inspired by the need to work for his community as a local government leader.

Born in Kitagata, Sheema District, Muhabwe joined public service as assistant lecturer in 1992 at the National Teachers’ College Kakoba (NTC), Mbarara District after his Diploma in Education at the Institute of Teacher Education Kyambogo. 

He was retained at Kakoba after emerging best student and later enrolled for Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences at Makerere University. 

He graduated in January1995, and was retained as tutorial assistant, where he taught for 10 days and he left to concentrate on his NTC Kakoba job because he already had an appointment with government. So, he went back as full time lecturer up to 2001. 

Off to the police

Muhabwe joined Uganda Police in 2001 at the rank of assistant superintendent of police. At the time, he was writing his Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomatic Studies thesis at Makerere University. 

“Joining police was not my choice, but I felt I was needed there. During our time, they would recruit graduates to transform the force. Police had institutional problems such as intrigue and office politics, but we sailed through,” Muhabwe recalls.

“We managed the challenges because it was not my first place of work and I got promoted to senior commissioner of police within 10 years.”

The retiree attributes this to his courage and ability to perform his assignments well, especially when he was commandant of Very Important People Protection Unit (VIPPU).

In VIPPU, Muhabwe gave the policemen skills in VIP protection.

“I encouraged my colleagues. Motivation does not mean I gave them my salary. I trained them and whoever excelled would be promoted accordingly and we would support each other. I treated them as my brothers, not subordinates. Once, a constable advised us on a matter that was complicated and it was impressive,” he recollects.

As commandant, Muhabwe made a network with popular people at national, regional and international levels. His knowledge on handling VIPs gave him the urge to join politics because most of the dignitaries that he rubbed shoulders with were politicians.

Side hustle 

Even when  he was a serving police officer, Muhabwe had a stint as a manager at Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) in 2005 after he was seconded by President Museveni. He did this up to 2008.

He also was a part-time lecturer at Kampala International University, where he would teach on Sunday and Monday until he pursued a Diploma in Law at Law Development Centre (LDC) and a Diploma in Public Administration and Management at Uganda Management Institute (UMI). 

“I later quit lecturing because it was hard pursuing two diplomas while working. From office at URA at 5pm, I would go to LDC on evening programme and on Saturday, I would go to UMI,” he states.

Promotion

Muhabwe was appointed commandant of VIPPU in 2008, where he worked up to 2012 and was made deputy director of Logistics and Engineering of the Uganda Police Force and assigned to construction and estates. 

As director of logistics and engineering, he witnessed construction of police offices and housing structures in different parts of Uganda. 

“I did some work, especially in construction. After doing that well, they transferred me to welfare. They would transfer me to where there were problems,” he asserts.

In the welfare directorate, Muhabwe helped in raw food production. While there, he produced tonnes of maize, oversaw the purchasing of three tractors, construction of goats’ farms, schools, etc. This laid ground for his promotion to the rank of senior commissioner.

Retirement

After his service, Muhabwe retired in 2015 to serve his community in Sheema District as a politician, a move that he terms as service of the people.

“I am now contesting as Chairperson LC5 to serve people directly in my home area. I realised that those who fed me and brought me up also needed my services. 

He first contested as Member of Parliament, Sheema South and he came second out of six candidates. He attributes his defeat to inadequate financial resources to facilitate the then election. After the 2015 election, Muhabwe kept waiting for another opportunity.

He then, engaged in farming to boost his household income and secure food for his family. At his farm are cows, goats, apples, banana and coffee plantations.

In 2019, Muhabwe was awarded a medal by President Museveni in appreciation of his outstanding performance.

“I was excited after getting news that I was among the medalists. When Gen Elly Tumwine was reading the list of my achievements, I realised I had forgotten some of them. 

With  the 2020/21 election  around the corner, Muhabwe contested for the NRM  party ticket for the Sheema District Chairperson  seat  where he lost  and chose tostand as an independent candidate.

 “I want to serve a bigger area so that my legacy is well captured.”

Whoever goes into an election wins or loses. Muhabwe says he is ready for any outcome.

Life in retirement

At 53, Muhabwe says retirement has since 2015 been gold to him because he has enough time for himself. He has used the time to fend for his family. According to Muhabwe, people who wait for retirement age lack orientation.

He has learnt that it is important to prepare for retirement when it is still early so that they can get ample time to do private work.

This, he says also helps one not to find it hard, working hard in their evening years.

“For me, it is important to invest early enough so that in future, I don’t see my children lacking anything,” he says.

Advice

When you are working, give people a chance to exploit their talents and reach their potential. Learn that you are equal, only that time is the factor.

When you respect your subordinates, they will respect you too. What you do to people will come back around in your retirement.

Duties

•Laban Muhabwe is chairperson and board member of Kitagata Secondary School.

•He also served as chairperson of Kitagata Hospital, and Kitagata Farm Institute.

• As a retired senior citizen, Muhabwe has concentrated more on taking lead in sensitisation of his community members on new initiatives of development and sustainability, especially in agriculture.

• Muhabwe takes time off to read books, especially the Holy Bible for nourishment.