Gerald Ssendaula
Encyclopedia
Gerald Majera Ssendaula is a retired Ugandan Politician, Banker, and a Farmer who was a Former Cabinet Minister and MP Member of Parliament
born May 15, 1943, Kyabbogo Village, Kingo Subcounty, Masaka District
carved out to form the present Lwengo District.
Because his father was less interested in educating children, Ssendaula’s mother applied for a Buganda Government scholarship to take the young Ssendaula to a reasonable school but without success.
He later met with Aga Ssekalala of Ugachick who was then a student of Senior Four but knew some Buganda Kingdom officials. Aga Ssekalala later introduced Ssendaula to the Mengo establishment, leading to the re-activation of his scholarship application in 1963.
A scholarship of Shs 905 then enabled him to join Namilyango College, where he studied from senior one to senior six. He later joined Nairobi University in 1969 where he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. There were about 27 other Ugandans at Nairobi University during his time, including Livingstone Okello Okello (Chua County), FDC's Cecilia Ogwal (Dokolo Woman MP), and Prof. Mondo Kagonyera.
, Ssendaula returned to Barclays Bank in Uganda where he had worked as a clerk during his S.6 vacation. The two-year Barclays Bank London training known as ‘Day Release’ prepared him for an administrative role. He worked at the bank’s Kabale branch before he was transferred to Nairobi to conduct some in-house training. He later returned to Uganda and rose ranks making him a General Manager with Barclays Bank later quitting for politics in 1980. He joined the Democratic Party as MP for Bukoto - Masaka District from 1980-1985. He was also a Member of the Masaka Cooperative Union, Chairman of Masaka District in 1988- 1992 where he was elected as the NRC Representative for Bukoto-Masaka.
With UPC in power and DP in opposition, Ssendaula was shadow spokesman for housing, while Evaristo Nyanzi was for finance (treasury).
In 1982, tragedy befell the opposition MP when his wife, Rosemary Nanyonga, was shot dead at their grocery in Mpererwe
, on Gayaza Road, opposite their home. It was 2 p.m. and Ssendaula was in Masaka working at his father’s coffee farm in Kinoni. The crime of his wife was apparently opening her shop while minister Samwiri Mugwisa was addressing a rally in Kawempe, moreover speaking about rebel activities in the country.
Mrs. Ssendaula tried to reason with the soldiers who attacked her, that Kawempe, where the rally was being held, was far away from Mpererwe where her shop was. They didn’t listen shooting her there and then. With the murder of his wife at the back of his mind, Ssendaula left his Mpererwe home joining the National Resistance Army
(NRA) when the rebels started capturing territory around 1984. It was ‘Commander’ Victor Bwana who persuaded him to join Museveni’s forces and he was too angry with the UPC government to resist the temptation.
Ssendaula helped the rebels export coffee, beans and hides to get some revenue since he was attached to the defact Masaka cooperative Union. At that time in 1984, the NRA had established a government it captured territory as the Kampala - Masaka road was cut of my the rebels, with their headquartres in Fort Portal. Ssendaula served in this ‘government’ as a commissioner, equivalent of a minister.
When the NRA captured power, he worked briefly at the NRM
Secretariat, basically to wind up the rebels’ export business as there was now a government to take care of it.
In 1987, he went to Masaka, contested and got elected district chairman as its first District Chairman under the NRM. He later joined the expanded National Resistance Council (NRC) legislature in 1989 as Bukoto MP.
In 1990, President Museveni appointed Ssendaula deputy minister of Commerce and Co-operatives under Mr.Richard Kaijuka with whom too was a Banker. In 1996, he was promoted full minister for Natural Resources.
At the beginning of 1998, Ssendaula became Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, a position he held until his retirement in 2005.
He joined politics representing the Democratic Party
where he was the Member of Parliament for Bukoto consituency then the largest constituency in Uganda from 1980 - 1985 which was split into, Bukoto Central, Bukoto South, Bukoto Mid West later remaining as the MP for Bukoto South in then Masaka District.
He was elected on a Democratic Party ticket switching to the political setting, NRM - Movement. He continued to become a Cabinet Minister in the Museveni Government as the Deputy Minister of Commerce and Cooperatives, which Ministry was was changed and Named Ministry of Trade and Industries from 1991- 1996. He rose to full Minister as the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment from 1996–1998, where he was transferred to The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development as its head through 1998-2005, where he retired from active politics.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
born May 15, 1943, Kyabbogo Village, Kingo Subcounty, Masaka District
Masaka District
Masaka District is a district in Central Uganda. Its main town is Masaka, whose estimated population in 2011 was 74,100.-Location:The district is bordered by Bukomansimbi District to the northwest, Kalungu District to the north, Kalangala District to the east and south, Rakai District to the...
carved out to form the present Lwengo District.
Background
Gerald Majera Ssendaula (born May 15, 1943, Kyabbogo, Kingo Subcounty, Masaka District) carved out to form the present Lwengo District, six Miles on Masaka - mbarara Road. His parents were the late Edward Byansi Kalibala and Maria Nakanwagi Nakato the oldest amongst his siblings of six brothers and two sisters still alive.Education
He started his education at Kyoko Primary and Nkoni Primary schools, then continued to St. Pius Junior Secondary School because he was a Roman Catholic.Because his father was less interested in educating children, Ssendaula’s mother applied for a Buganda Government scholarship to take the young Ssendaula to a reasonable school but without success.
He later met with Aga Ssekalala of Ugachick who was then a student of Senior Four but knew some Buganda Kingdom officials. Aga Ssekalala later introduced Ssendaula to the Mengo establishment, leading to the re-activation of his scholarship application in 1963.
A scholarship of Shs 905 then enabled him to join Namilyango College, where he studied from senior one to senior six. He later joined Nairobi University in 1969 where he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. There were about 27 other Ugandans at Nairobi University during his time, including Livingstone Okello Okello (Chua County), FDC's Cecilia Ogwal (Dokolo Woman MP), and Prof. Mondo Kagonyera.
Work Experience
After his studies in KenyaKenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, Ssendaula returned to Barclays Bank in Uganda where he had worked as a clerk during his S.6 vacation. The two-year Barclays Bank London training known as ‘Day Release’ prepared him for an administrative role. He worked at the bank’s Kabale branch before he was transferred to Nairobi to conduct some in-house training. He later returned to Uganda and rose ranks making him a General Manager with Barclays Bank later quitting for politics in 1980. He joined the Democratic Party as MP for Bukoto - Masaka District from 1980-1985. He was also a Member of the Masaka Cooperative Union, Chairman of Masaka District in 1988- 1992 where he was elected as the NRC Representative for Bukoto-Masaka.
Political life
In 1980 Ssendaula joined politics as a Democratic Party supporter contesting for Parliament MP and got elected for Bukoto Central (presently Bukomansimbi and Masaka Municipality).With UPC in power and DP in opposition, Ssendaula was shadow spokesman for housing, while Evaristo Nyanzi was for finance (treasury).
In 1982, tragedy befell the opposition MP when his wife, Rosemary Nanyonga, was shot dead at their grocery in Mpererwe
Mpererwe
Mpererwe is a neighborhood in the city of Kampala, Uganda's capital city. Sometimes it is spelled as Mpereerwe.-Location:Mpererwe is located in Kawempe Division, in northern Kampala. It is bordered by Katalemwa, in Wakiso District to the north, Kisaasi to the east, Kanyanya to the south and Kawempe...
, on Gayaza Road, opposite their home. It was 2 p.m. and Ssendaula was in Masaka working at his father’s coffee farm in Kinoni. The crime of his wife was apparently opening her shop while minister Samwiri Mugwisa was addressing a rally in Kawempe, moreover speaking about rebel activities in the country.
Mrs. Ssendaula tried to reason with the soldiers who attacked her, that Kawempe, where the rally was being held, was far away from Mpererwe where her shop was. They didn’t listen shooting her there and then. With the murder of his wife at the back of his mind, Ssendaula left his Mpererwe home joining the National Resistance Army
National Resistance Army
The National Resistance Army , the military wing of the National Resistance Movement , was a rebel army that waged a guerrilla war, commonly referred to as the Luwero War or "the war in the bush", against the government of Milton Obote, and later that of Tito Okello.NRA was supported by Muammar...
(NRA) when the rebels started capturing territory around 1984. It was ‘Commander’ Victor Bwana who persuaded him to join Museveni’s forces and he was too angry with the UPC government to resist the temptation.
Ssendaula helped the rebels export coffee, beans and hides to get some revenue since he was attached to the defact Masaka cooperative Union. At that time in 1984, the NRA had established a government it captured territory as the Kampala - Masaka road was cut of my the rebels, with their headquartres in Fort Portal. Ssendaula served in this ‘government’ as a commissioner, equivalent of a minister.
When the NRA captured power, he worked briefly at the NRM
National Resistance Movement
The National Resistance Movement , commonly referred to as the Movement, is a political organization in Uganda.Until a referendum in 2005, Uganda held elections on a non-party basis. The NRM dominates parliament, however, and is expected to continue to do so. The presidential elections of 12 March...
Secretariat, basically to wind up the rebels’ export business as there was now a government to take care of it.
In 1987, he went to Masaka, contested and got elected district chairman as its first District Chairman under the NRM. He later joined the expanded National Resistance Council (NRC) legislature in 1989 as Bukoto MP.
In 1990, President Museveni appointed Ssendaula deputy minister of Commerce and Co-operatives under Mr.Richard Kaijuka with whom too was a Banker. In 1996, he was promoted full minister for Natural Resources.
At the beginning of 1998, Ssendaula became Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, a position he held until his retirement in 2005.
He joined politics representing the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Uganda)
The Democratic Party is a moderate conservative political party in Uganda currently led by Norbert Mao. DP was led by Paul Ssemogerere for 25 years until his retirement in November 2005...
where he was the Member of Parliament for Bukoto consituency then the largest constituency in Uganda from 1980 - 1985 which was split into, Bukoto Central, Bukoto South, Bukoto Mid West later remaining as the MP for Bukoto South in then Masaka District.
He was elected on a Democratic Party ticket switching to the political setting, NRM - Movement. He continued to become a Cabinet Minister in the Museveni Government as the Deputy Minister of Commerce and Cooperatives, which Ministry was was changed and Named Ministry of Trade and Industries from 1991- 1996. He rose to full Minister as the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment from 1996–1998, where he was transferred to The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development as its head through 1998-2005, where he retired from active politics.