NSSF''s Ivan Kyayonka was incorruptible - widow

By Taddeo Bwambale

KAMPALA - The widow of the Ivan Kyayonka, the board chairman of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has said her husband was incorruptible and did not steal from the fund during the purchase of shares in Umeme.

“I want the whole world to know that my husband, a man of integrity, a man of impeccable character, an incorruptible man, did not steal any money from NSSF,” she stated.

Kyayonka, who was board chairman of NSSF since June 2012, passed away in Nairobi, Kenya after battling kidney complications.

In a tribute, President Yoweri Museveni hailed Kyayonka’s contribution to the growth of NSSF and his service to the country.

“I am aware of Kyayonka’s huge contribution to the management of NSSF, where his dedication and insightful decisions helped steer the organisation to greater achievements. I have been reliably informed that Kyayonka always put public duty first no matter the circumstances, trying to make his peers and others he interacted with benefit from his leadership and managerial skills,” Museveni said in his condolence message.

At the funeral service at St Luke’s Church in Ntinda, Kampala on Monday, Christine Kyayonka, blamed misinformation for the furore surrounding NSSF’s purchase of Umeme shares.

“I witnessed the conversation between Hon. Maria Kiwanuka (former finance minister) and Ivan on the matter. It was upon my prompting that he called her. She said to him; Ivan, go ahead with the investment, if you truly believe that it is in the interest of savers’ money, but take responsibility, which he did,” Christine explained.

She described her husband as an unsung hero, who had made significant sacrifice for his country.

“Whenever there was fuel crisis, Ivan took numerous trips out of the country, just to ensure that the Ugandan economy does not come to a standstill,” she stated.

Aston Kajara, the state minister for finance in charge of privatisation said the ministry backed the NSSF board’s decision to purchase shares in Umeme.
 

Minister of state for finance (C) Aston Kajara addressing mourners as NSSF managing director Richard Byarugaba (R) looks on at the funeral service. (Credit: Nicholas Oneal)
 

He described Kyayonka as a transformational leader and man of integrity, leadership and proven experience that he applied in transforming NSSF into a strong institution.

“As Ministry of Finance, we stood behind Kyayonka in all investment decisions he took, including the investment of shares in NSSF,” Kajara said.

“We were even surprised that after the IGG said it was okay for NSSF to invest in Umeme, some people took another step to query the decision. Under his leadership, the fund has grown in leaps and bounds.”

NSSF spent sh34b to purchase over 200 million Umeme shares, making the fund the third largest institutional investors in the power distribution company to 14.27%. The purchase of the shares provoked a lot of debate in Parliament.

Kidney complications
 

At the time of his death, Kyayonka (left) was the board chairman of NSSF. He is pictured here in this October 1, 2012 photo (L) with NSSF executive director Richard Byarugaba (R) who is handing over the new 10% interest rates to the then-finance minister Maria Kiwanuka at the ministry of finance offices. (Credit: Nicholas Oneal)

During the service, it was revealed that for 17 years, Kyayonka has been undergoing dialysis from his home, after developing kidney complications in the late 1990s.

Dr Emmanuel Ssekasanvu, a consultant nephrologist (kidney specialist) at Case Hospital said Kyayonka’s condition worsened about two weeks ago.

Ssekasanvu said it was Kyayonka who mobilised resources for establishing the dialysis unit at Mulago and became the first patient. Over 100 patients are receiving treatment at the facility.

He has been instrumental in setting up many other dialysis units across the country, Ssekasanvu said.

The life-support machine filters a patient’s blood to remove excess water and waste products when the kidneys are damaged. Wastes and fluid from the blood are drained away into the bath.

Ssekasanvu said Kyayonka inspired him to go for further studies in nephrology and become a specialist in the medical field.

Biography
 

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Kyayonka was born on December 4, 1958 in Igeyero, Mayuge district to the late Ezekiel Kayabya Wambuzi and Faisi Magoba. He was the youngest of 11 children.

He attended Bute Primary School from 1965 to 1969 before joining Kisoko Primary Boarding School from 1970 to 1971.

He studied at King’s College Budo before joining Makerere University. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1982.

Career

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For ten years, Kyayonka was the Country Chairman of Shell Uganda and in 2013, he worked briefly as managing director for Vivo Energy Uganda. He is seen here re-filling rally driver Ronald Ssebuguzi's race car

He started work as a consulting engineer with M/S Tecno Consult Ltd in 1982, before he was scouted by Shell BP Uganda and offered him a job as plant and equipment maintenance service engineer.

He rose through the ranks to become aviation manager and then retail manager when he was posted to Kenya.

During the 1990s he was appointed Shell Uganda operations manager and was promoted to country chairman for Shell Uganda Ltd, the first for a Ugandan. He held the position until December 2012 when he retired after serving the company for 31 years.


  TRIBUTES  
 

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Members of the Uganda Cricket Association paying their respects to their director, the late Ivan Kyayonka at St Luke Church Ntinda. (Credit: Nicholas Oneal)

For six hours, several government officials and representatives of institutions where Kyayonka worked took turns to eulogise a man they described as a great team leader and mentor.

Lands Minister, Daudi Migereko: The death of Kyayonka is a huge loss to the country because of the intelligence he exuded. He helped avert a fuel crisis in the country following clashes in Kenya that blocked supplies to Uganda.

Kyayonka’s daughter, Yvonne: He was a loving father who cared for his family and taught her stand up for the truth.

Jimmy Mugerwa, general manager Tullow Uganda: The deceased was a decisive man, risk taker and one who loved solving challenges.

James Saaka, former employee of Shell Uganda: Kyayonka was always supportive to his colleagues, but never entertained idle talk.

Hans Paulsen, managing director Vivo Energy Uganda: Kyayonka was a mentor who created opportunities for his colleagues.

Patrick Bitature, chairman Umeme: Kyayonka was a great mind, exemplary and visionary leader, who opened doors for Ugandan professionals to run international businesses.
 

Yvonne Kyayonka lays a wreath on the casket of her late father. (Credit: Nicholas Oneal)

Vivo Energy managing director Hans Paulsen addressing mourners during the funeral at St Luke Church Ntinda. (Credit: Nicholas Oneal)

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