Ruhakana Rugunda
Encyclopedia
Ruhakana Rugunda is the current Minister of Information & Communication Technology
in the Ugandan Cabinet
. He was appointed to that position on 27 May 2011. He replaced Aggrey Awori
, who was dropped from the Cabinet. Prior to that he served as Uganda
's Permanent Representative at the United Nations
, from January 2009 until May 2011.
on November 7, 1947. As a young boy, he would often sit and read the newspapers to his father Surumani Rugunda, and it is these experiences at a tender age that sparked his later interest in politics. Rugunda attended Kigezi High School and Busoga College where he served as Head Prefect, before joining Makerere University Medical School and later the University of Zambia
where he qualified in Medicine. He later studied at the University of California, Berkeley
and obtained the degree of Master of Science in Public Health
(MSc.Pub.Hlth
) Before joining Uganda
n politics, Rugunda worked as Medical Officer in Zambia
, as a physician at DC General Hospital in Washington DC, and at Kenyatta National Hospital
in Nairobi
, Kenya
.
and the National Resistance Movement
.
In 1985 he met with the leaders of the Uganda
n National Resistance Movement
(NRM) at the inn "Zum grünen Jäger" in Unterolberndorf, for a conspirative conference to elaborate a political programm for the liberated Uganda
.
He has formerly held the following positions in the Ugandan Government:
In July 2006, Rugunda led a Ugandan government
negotiating team to Juba, Sudan
to hold peace talks with the Lord's Resistance Army
.
In January 2009, he was appointed Uganda's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. At the same time, the position was elevated to a Cabinet Ministerial level in Uganda. He served as the president of the United Nations Security Council
in July 2009 and in October 2010. In the cabinet reshuffle of 27 May 2011, he was re-assigned to the Information & Communication Technology Ministry, as full Cabinet Minister.
, playing tennis
and chess in his spare time.
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
in the Ugandan Cabinet
Cabinet of Uganda
According 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."...
. He was appointed to that position on 27 May 2011. He replaced Aggrey Awori
Aggrey Awori
Aggrey Siryoyi Awori is a Ugandan politician and a member of the ruling National Resistance Movement party. He was the Minister for Information & Communications Technology in the Ugandan Cabinet, from 16 February 2009 until 27 May 2011. In the Cabinet reshuffle of 27 May 2011, he was dropped from...
, who was dropped from the Cabinet. Prior to that he served as Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
's Permanent Representative at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, from January 2009 until May 2011.
History
Rugunda was born in Kabale DistrictKabale District
Kabale District is a district in Western Uganda. As with most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kabale. It was originally part of the district of Kigezi, before the districts of Rukungiri, Kanungu and Kisoro were peeled off to form separate districts.-Location:Kabale...
on November 7, 1947. As a young boy, he would often sit and read the newspapers to his father Surumani Rugunda, and it is these experiences at a tender age that sparked his later interest in politics. Rugunda attended Kigezi High School and Busoga College where he served as Head Prefect, before joining Makerere University Medical School and later the University of Zambia
University of Zambia
The University of Zambia is Zambia's largest university, founded in 1966. It has a student population of about 10,000.-Academics:The University of Zambia is divided into the following faculties:*School of Agricultural Sciences *School of Engineering...
where he qualified in Medicine. He later studied at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
and obtained the degree of Master of Science in Public Health
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
(MSc.Pub.Hlth
MSC
- Computers:* Mario Strikers Charged* Microsoft Common Console Document, file for the Microsoft Management Console* Microelectronics Support Centre* Microsoft Corporation* MIDI Show Control* Message Sequence Chart...
) Before joining Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n politics, Rugunda worked as Medical Officer in Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
, as a physician at DC General Hospital in Washington DC, and at Kenyatta National Hospital
Kenyatta National Hospital
Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi is the oldest hospital in Kenya. Founded in 1901 with a bed capacity of 40 as the Native Civil hospital, it was renamed the King George VI in 1952. At that time the settler community were served by the nearby European Hospital...
in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
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...
.
Political career
While attending Makerere University in Uganda, Rugunda, commonly referred to as "Ndugu" (swahili for "brother") by friends, served as President of the National Union of Students of Uganda, a politically vibrant youth movement. As a young political activist, Rugunda was part of the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) and was said to be close to President Apollo Milton Obote. Rugunda was one of a few who had been seen by Obote as future leaders of the party and country. In one of the last interviews before his death, Obote lamented as to why the brilliant Rugunda had gotten himself entangled with Yoweri MuseveniYoweri 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...
and 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...
.
In 1985 he met with the leaders of the Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n 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...
(NRM) at the inn "Zum grünen Jäger" in Unterolberndorf, for a conspirative conference to elaborate a political programm for the liberated Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
.
He has formerly held the following positions in the Ugandan Government:
- Minister of Internal AffairsInternal affairsInternal affairs may refer to:* Internal affairs of a state* Internal affairs , a division of a law enforcement agency which investigates cases of lawbreaking by members of that agency...
- Minister of Health
- Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Minister of InformationMinister of InformationThe Ministry of Information , headed by the Minister of Information, was a United Kingdom government department created briefly at the end of World War I and again during World War II...
- Minister of Works, Transport & CommunicationPublic worksPublic works are a broad category of projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community...
- Minister of Water, Lands & the EnvironmentWaterWater is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
- Commissioner for Animal Industry, Game and FisheriesLivestockLivestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
- Chairman of NRM Electoral CommissionNational Resistance MovementThe 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...
- Member of Parliament for Kabale Municipality and
- President of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
- He also sits on the Board of DirectorsBoard of directorsA board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
and is a shareholderShareholderA shareholder or stockholder is an individual or institution that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a public or private corporation. Shareholders own the stock, but not the corporation itself ....
in the National Bank of CommerceNational Bank of Commerce (Uganda)National Bank of Commerce is a commercial bank in Uganda. The bank provides banking services to individuals and to small and medium business enterprises...
, a commercial bankCommercial bankAfter the implementation of the Glass–Steagall Act, the U.S. Congress required that banks engage only in banking activities, whereas investment banks were limited to capital market activities. As the two no longer have to be under separate ownership under U.S...
in Uganda.
In July 2006, Rugunda led a Ugandan government
Politics of Uganda
Uganda is a presidential republic, in which the President of Uganda is both head of state and head of government; there is a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly...
negotiating team to Juba, Sudan
Juba, Sudan
Juba is the capital and largest city of the Republic of South Sudan. It also serves as the capital of Central Equatoria, the smallest of the ten states of South Sudan. The city is situated on the White Nile and functions as the seat and metropolis of Juba County.- Population :In 2005, Juba's...
to hold peace talks with the Lord's Resistance Army
Lord's Resistance Army
The Lord's Resistance Army insurgency is an ongoing guerrilla campaign waged since 1987 by the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group, operating mainly in northern Uganda, but also in South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo...
.
In January 2009, he was appointed Uganda's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. At the same time, the position was elevated to a Cabinet Ministerial level in Uganda. He served as the president of the United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
in July 2009 and in October 2010. In the cabinet reshuffle of 27 May 2011, he was re-assigned to the Information & Communication Technology Ministry, as full Cabinet Minister.
Personal
Dr. Rugunda is married to Jocelyn Rugunda and enjoys 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...
, playing tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
and chess in his spare time.