Jim Muhwezi
Encyclopedia
Major General
(Retired) Jim Muhwezi Katugugu is a Ugandan lawyer
, politician
and retired military officer. He is the current elected Member of Parliament (MP) representing "Rujumbura County", Rukungiri District
.
(LLB), from Makerere University
, Uganda's oldest university
. He also has received Senior Military Police and Security Intelligence Training. 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.
. 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 (10) year tenure at the agency, no allegations of torture
were raised against the agency.
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.
, 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. In a cabinet reshuffle one week before the Commission Report was made public, President Museveni
removed all three ministers from his cabinet.
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 immunisation. Three days later, he appeared before a High Court Judge, made bail and was released. The case is still pending in Ugandan courts.
and playing golf
.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
(Retired) Jim Muhwezi Katugugu is a Ugandan lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and retired military officer. He is the current elected Member of Parliament (MP) representing "Rujumbura County", Rukungiri District
Rukungiri District
Rukungiri District is a district in Western Uganda. It is named after its 'chief town' of Rukungiri where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
.
Education
Jim Muhwezi holds the degree of Bachelor of LawsBachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
(LLB), from Makerere University
Makerere University
Makerere University , Uganda's largest and second-oldest higher institution of learning, , was first established as a technical school in 1922. In 1963 it became the University of East Africa, offering courses leading to general degrees from the University of London...
, Uganda's oldest university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
. He also has received Senior Military Police and Security Intelligence Training. In July 2009, the Law Development Center
Law Development Center
The Law Development Centre , is an educational institution for higher learning that offers various legal courses, ranging from one month to one year.-Overview:...
in Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
awarded him the Diploma in Legal Practice
Legal practice
Legal practice is sometimes used to distinguish the body of judicial or administrative precedents, rules, policies, customs, and doctrines from legislative enactments such as statutes and constitutions which might be called "laws" in the strict sense of being commands to the general public, rather...
, the prerequisite to enrolling as an advocate in Uganda and for obtaining a license to practice law in the country.
Work experience
In the 1970s Jim Muhwezi worked as a policeman in the Uganda Police ForceUganda Police Force
The Uganda Police Force is the national police force of Uganda. The head of the Force is called the Inspector General of Police . The current IGP is Major General Edward Kale Kayihura. He is a soldier of the UPDF....
. He was one of the combatants in the war (1981–1986) that ushered the National Resistance Movement
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...
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
Internal Security Organisation
The Internal Security Organisation is the Uganda government's counter intelligence agency responsible for providing national security intelligence to Uganda's policy makers.It also engages in covert activities at the request of the President of the Uganda.Founded in 1986, The organisation took...
(ISO). As head of ISO, Muhwezi is credited with cleaning up the reputation and image of the security police apparatus. During his ten (10) year tenure at the agency, no allegations of torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
were raised against the agency.
Between 1994 and 1995, he served as a member of the Constituent Assembly
Constituent assembly
A constituent assembly is a body composed for the purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution...
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.
Controversy
Muhwezi was censured by the Ugandan Parliament in 1998 for abuse of office. He however kept his Cabinet post and his parliamentary seat. In June 2006, a Commission of Inquiry, headed by Justice James Munage OgoolaJames Munange Ogoola
James Ogoola is a Ugandan judge. He is an Acting Justice of the Supreme Court of Uganda.-References:...
, 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. In a cabinet reshuffle one week before the Commission Report was made public, President Museveni
Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is a Ugandan politician and statesman. He has been President of Uganda since 26 January 1986.Museveni was involved in the war that deposed Idi Amin Dada, ending his rule in 1979, and in the rebellion that subsequently led to the demise of the Milton Obote regime in 1985...
removed all three ministers from his cabinet.
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 immunisation. Three days later, he appeared before a High Court Judge, made bail and was released. The case is still pending in Ugandan courts.
Personal details
Jim Muhwezi Katugugu is married to Susan Muhwezi, with whom he has seven (7) children. He is reported to enjoy readingReading (process)
Reading is a complex cognitive process of decoding symbols for the intention of constructing or deriving meaning . It is a means of language acquisition, of communication, and of sharing information and ideas...
and playing golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
.
See also
- Cabinet of UgandaCabinet of UgandaAccording to the Constitution of Uganda, "there shall be a Cabinet which shall consist of the President, the Vice President and such number of Ministers as may appear to the President to be reasonably necessary for the efficient running of the State."...
- Parliament of Uganda
- Uganda People's Defense Force
- Rukungiri DistrictRukungiri DistrictRukungiri District is a district in Western Uganda. It is named after its 'chief town' of Rukungiri where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...