By Arinda W Nsheeka
Former Minister of Information and National Guidance , who also happen, Rtd. Major General Jim Muhwezi Katugugu has said that he’s ready to represent the people of Rujumbura County in parliament again if they want him.
Maj. Gen Jim Muhwezi (NRM Party) lost the Bujumbura County seat in 2016 to Mr Fred Turyamuhweza of the Forum for Democratic Change.
“Though not in parliament but I remained here with you. When you’re in need, like the other time of prolonged drought I was the first to bring relief aid here before the so called leaders you voted,” Muhwezi said.
He said this on Saturday, 19th may 2018 while campaigning for NRM Party flag bearers in the coming Rukungiri elections that are slated for May 31st .
Muhwezi was accompanied by two NRM ministers namely; State Minister for finance, planning and economic development, David Bahati and that of housing Dr. Chris Baryomunsi including the Kisoro district woman Member of Parliament Rose Kabagyenyi .
The NRM team had gone to the district to campaign for Winfred Matsiko and other NRM flag bearers for Rukungiri Woman MP and Bikurungu town council respectively.
Maj. Gen Muhwezi advised voters not to misuse their vote, arguing them to vote for NRM party only.
“You said you want a change in leadership and voted FDC Party, and I think you saw what change means because most of the projects that I was doing in this area stalled,” he said.
Jim Muhwezi:
He was born in Rukungiri District on 23 August 1950. Jim Muhwezi holds the degree of Bachelor of Laws (LLB), from Makerere University.
He also has received Senior Military Police and Security Intelligence Training from Tanzania and Russia. 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..
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.
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]
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 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 was responsible for misuse of public funds.
The Commission recommended prosecution, restitution and possible imprisonment if found guilty.
A total of 148 MPs voted in favour of censuring Muhwezi, while 91 were against it. The legendary army General was censured over abuse of office.
Jim Muhwezi Katugugu is married to Susan Muhwezi, with whom he has seven children.
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