The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) board is the latest casualty in the ongoing conflict between Director General Robert Mukiza and Investment Minister Evelyne Anite. The Ankole Times has learned that Finance Minister Matia Kasaija dissolved the UIA board last week, allegedly at the instigation of junior Investment Minister Anite.
The sacked members include Morrison Rwakakamba (Board Chairperson), Dr. Joshua Mutambi, Beatrice Mpairwe, Neima Ombambosa, Izama Angelo Opi-Aiya, Getrude Kateesa Lutaaya, and Godfrey Byamukama Kereere. Some of these members had their contracts renewed just two weeks ago, but Kasaija decided to send all of them packing.
It has now come to light that Minister Anite has a personal vendetta against UIA Executive Director Mukiza. The ongoing conflict escalated when the two appeared before President Museveni months ago, where Anite was severely exposed. Reports suggest that Anite recruited the UIA board to help her force Mukiza to step down.
It is worth noting that the Anite-Mukiza feud arose as many board members’ terms were expiring. Anite allegedly offered a deal: “I will renew your contracts; you help me force Mukiza out of office.” However, when the members’ contracts were renewed, they chose to act according to their conscience and refused to pass a vote of no confidence in Mukiza, leaving Anite frustrated.
In the broader context, Anite reportedly wanted the UIA board to initiate investigations into allegations of tribalism, mismanagement, corruption, and favoritism against Mukiza. She aimed to have Mukiza resign to facilitate these investigations, which would effectively end his tenure at UIA.
When the previous board members showed little interest in complying, Anite allegedly spoke with Minister Kasaija, who has the authority to appoint or dissolve the UIA board. The outcome was the dissolution of the board, and recruitment for a new board is currently underway. Insiders believe that the new members must be aligned with Anite’s agenda, which is to ensure Mukiza’s removal.
“Anite wants to fire Mukiza through the UIA board. The old board refused to be manipulated. When they resisted, she used Kasaija to remove them. They are now recruiting new board members who will be more compliant. This is not good news for DG Mukiza, especially considering what happened to Kaguhangire [Mukiza’s predecessor],” reveals a source at the Ministry of Finance familiar with the situation.
HOW MUKIZA PREDECESSOR WAS FORCED OUT OF UIA
It should be noted that this is the same way Mukiza predecessor Jolly Kaguhangire was forced out of UIA in 2018. The current events may be reminiscent of what Kaguhangire went through.
A petition was first sent to the IGG accusing Kaguhangire of misuse of office, gross insubordination, incompetence among others.
She was later suspended from office by the UIA board pending the investigations into the issues raised in the IGG petition.
However, in May 2019, the IGG cleared her of wrongdoing. After the IGG report, Kaguhangire recently sought an audience with President Museveni where she claimed that her acrimonious exit in 2018 was engineered by mafias at UIA.
Sources told The Ankole Times that she told the President that some senior UIA staff and board members fought her when she began exposing their corrupt tendencies. Her daughter is also President Museveni’s social media handler. A delegation of members of the Born Again faith, where Kaguhangire belongs, is also said to have met the President and convinced him that she was innocent.
President Museveni is then said to have sought the opinion of the IGG on the matter after which he ordered Finance minister Matia Kasaija to reinstate Kaguhangire.
However, Kaguhangire’s return was bound to be met by hurdles after UIA board members vowed to fight her. The board members stuck to their guns and she eventually left UIA for good. Kasaija would also later sack the UIA board that masterminded her exit.
