Jim Muhwezi

Jim Muhwezi
Born (1950-08-23) 23 August 1950
Uganda
Residence Kololo, Kampala, Uganda
Nationality Ugandan
Citizenship Uganda
Alma mater Makerere University
(Bachelor of Laws)
Law Development Centre
(Diploma in Legal Practice)
Military Instititusion In USSR
(Senior Command Course)
Tanzania Police Academy
(Police Cadet Course)
Occupation Lawyer, Politician & Retired Military Officer
Years active 1980 — present
Known for Politics
Home town Rukungiri
Title Uganda's Minister of Information & National Guidance
Spouse(s) Susan Muhwezi

Major General Jim Muhwezi Katugugu is a Ugandan lawyer, politician and retired military officer. He is the former Minister of Information and National Guidance in the Ugandan Cabinet. He had been appointed to that position in a cabinet reshuffle on 1 March 2015,[1] replacing Rose Namayanja, who was dropped from the Cabinet.[2] Also, he is the former Member of Parliament (MP) representing "Rujumbura County", Rukungiri District.[3]

Background and education

He was born in Rukungiri District on 23 August 1950. Jim Muhwezi holds the degree of Bachelor of Laws (LLB), from Makerere University, Uganda's oldest and largest public university. He also has received Senior Military Police and Security Intelligence Training from Tanzania and the former Soviet Union.[3] In July 2009, the Law Development Center in Kampala awarded him the Diploma in Legal Practice, the prerequisite to enrolling as an advocate in Uganda and for obtaining a license to practice law in the country.[4]

Work experience

In the 1970s Jim Muhwezi worked as a policeman in the Uganda Police Force. He was one of the combatants in the war (1981–1986) that ushered the National Resistance Movement into power. After the war, he served as a member of the National Resistance Council (NRC) from 1986 until 1996. During the same period, he concurrently served as the first Director General of the Internal Security Organisation (ISO). As head of ISO, Muhwezi is credited with cleaning up the reputation and image of the security police apparatus. During his ten-year tenure at the agency, no allegations of torture were raised against the agency.[5] Between 1994 and 1995, he served as a member of the Constituent Assembly that drew up the 1995 Ugandan Constitution. From 1996 until 1998, Jim Muhwezi served as Minister of State in Charge of Primary Education. He was appointed Minister of Health in 2001, serving in that capacity until 2006.[3]

Controversy

Muhwezi was censured by the Ugandan Parliament in 1998 for abuse of office.[5] He however kept his Cabinet post and his parliamentary seat. In June 2006, a Commission of Inquiry, headed by Justice James Munage Ogoola, set up by the Ugandan Government to inquire into the misuse of funds of the Global Fund for AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, found in its report that Jim Muhwezi and his two Ministers of State, Captain Mike Mukula and Dr. Alex Kamugisha, were responsible for misuse of public funds. The Commission recommended prosecution, restitution and possible imprisonment if found guilty.[6]

In a cabinet reshuffle one week before the Commission Report was made public, President Museveni removed all three ministers from his cabinet.[7] On Sunday 27 May 2007, Major General (Retired) Jim Muhwezi Katugugu, the former Minister of Health turned himself in to the police, was arrested, booked and sent to Luzira prison, on charges of (a) abuse of office (b) theft and (c) embezzlement of over Sh1b (approximately US$500,000) in donor funds for immunization.[8] Three days later, he appeared before a High Court Judge, made bail and was released.[9] The case was dropped on 31 July 2012, and Muhwezi was acquitted.[10]

Personal details

Jim Muhwezi Katugugu is married to Susan Muhwezi, with whom he has seven children. He is reported to enjoy reading and playing golf.

Parliamentary duties

He was a member of the parliamentary committee on physical infrastructure.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Uganda State House, . (1 March 2015). "Full Cabinet List As At 1 March 2015" (PDF). Daily Monitor (Kampala). Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  2. ↑ Monitor Team, . (3 March 2015). "How Regions Shared Cabinet Positions". Daily Monitor (Kampala). Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 POU, . (2011). "Profile of Major General Muhwezi Jim Katugugu - Member of Parliament for Rujumbura County, Rukungiri District". Parliament of Uganda (POU). Archived from the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Newvision Archive, . (30 July 2009). "653 Graduate At Law Development Centre". New Vision (Uganda). Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  5. 1 2 Newvision Archive, . (21 September 2005). "Jim Muhwezi, The Survivor". New Vision (Kampala). Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  6. ↑ Odyek, John (1 June 2006). "Muhwezi Faces Prosecution In Global Fund". New Vision (Kampala). Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  7. ↑ Henry Mukasa, and Felix Osike (23 May 2006). "President Museveni Nominates 69 To Cabinet". New Vision (Kampala). Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  8. ↑ Charles Ariko, Edward Anyoli, and Hillary Nsambu (28 May 2007). "Muhwezi Sent To Luzira Jail". New Vision (Kampala). Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  9. ↑ Anne Mugisa, and Hillary Nsambu (31 May 2007). "Muhwezi Out On Bail". New Vision (Kampala). Archived from the original on 6 February 2015.
  10. ↑ Baraire, Patson (18 June 2012). "Rukungiri Welcomes Jim Muhwezi's Acquittal". New Vision (Kampala).
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