Ugandans have paid glowing tributes to the late Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Keith Muhakanizi, who died on Thursday in Milan, Italy.
According to reports, Muhakanizi lost the battle to cancer. He was aged 64.
Muhakanizi is also the former Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury (PSST).
Ivan Rugambwa, a Senior Communications Officer, said Muhakanizi and the late governor Bank of Uganda “were the architects of the Modern Ugandan economy as we know it”.
“Keith Muhakanizi, after Tumusime Mutebile, really marks the passing of an era. The two, perhaps more than anybody else, were the architects of the Modern Ugandan economy as we know it. They did their part. May their souls rest eternally,” Rugambwa tweeted.
Rosa Malango, the former UN Resident Rep to Uganda, said Muhakanizi fought to ensure the alignment of development assistance to national priorities.
“Saddened to learn of the loss of Keith Muhakanizi, Permanent Secretary Prime Minister’s Office, who as PS Ministry of Finance & Secretary to the Treasury fought to ensure the alignment of development assistance to national priorities 🙏🏾#RestInPeaceKeith May the Lord bless his family,” Malongo said.
Julius Mucunguzi, the former OPM Communications Advisor, also paid a glowing tribute to Muhakanizi in a series of tweets.
“When Keith Muhakanizi arrived @OPMUganda he called a general meeting of all technical staff, from the lowest cadre to the commissioners and Undersecretaries, and pledged the following: to restore the confidence of staff, promote adherence to the law, ensure discipline, and push for results,” he tweeted.
According to Mucunguzi, Keith assured them that he would stand up for and defend any technical staff who was doing the right thing and following the law, but that he would never protect wrongdoing from or by anyone.
“With that charge, we knew that a new era had arrived at OPM. In ensuring discipline, for example, he was intolerant to drivers and staff members who drove on the wrong lanes to beat traffic while in government vehicles. He issued a circular that anyone caught by police breaking traffic rules had to face the music.”
At the height of Covid-19, Muhakanizi insisted that everyone must wear a mask, must check through security, and must wash hands, saying that if others were complying, not complying would be disrespectful to others.
“On work, he often told us that Work is equal to force X distance, and said, a number of us were applying a lot of force, but moving no distance and that as such, there was no work being done– advising that we should focus on both effort and results.”
Mucunguzi said the late PS enhanced time management and discipline at OPM and at the meetings he chaired.
“Our Heads of Departments meetings every Monday were prompt at 8.30 am, and lasted no more than one hour. As such, if you had anything to say, it had better be to the point and with a point. We knew and he told us that he was unwell and would routinely go for treatment, but every moment we had with Keith was a moment of great learning and growth. It is sad that he has gone, but I must say that he lived a full & impactful life. I am glad to have met, worked with, and learnt from him.
Ramathan Ggoobi, the current Secretary to the Treasury, also mourned his senior in the field.
“I have just learnt about the passing of my predecessor, my senior, Mr. Keith Muhakanizi. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and close friends. The Ministry shall issue an official communication in the due course. May the soul of Mr. Muhakanizi rest in eternal peace,” Ggoobi said.
Keith Muhakanizi was born in Rukungiri District to the late Rev. Kosia Kajwengye and the late Zeridah Kajwengye.
He was the Permanent Secretary Prime Minister’s Office, and former long-serving PS Ministry of Finance and Secretary to the Treasury.
He was a macro-economist and a public sector management specialist.
He helped in the formulation of the National Development Plans, the Public Finance, and Management Act, and The Bank of Uganda Act, among others.
He died in a Milan, Italy hospital where he has receiving treatment on April 13, 2023.
