'We should all pick a leaf from late Frank Kalimuzo's work'

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Educators and institutional leaders have called for service-oriented leadership in public institutions, arguing it can foster environments of trust, accountability, and community engagement.

This was voiced during the 2nd Frank Kalimuzo Memorial Lecture held at Makerere University on Friday, June 13.

(Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

Mrs Lorna Magara, Chairperson of Makerere University Council (left) with former Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera (centre) and Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta representing the VC. (Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

Leaders from academia and public service gathered to reflect on the enduring legacy of Uganda’s first indigenous vice-chancellor.

Themed around building a culture of service in public institutions, the event underscored the need for visionary leadership rooted in integrity and public service.

Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Finance and Administration, highlighted Kalimuzo’s transformative role in the university and Uganda at large.

L-R: Allen Kagina, Prof. Moses Muhwezi, Esther Kalimuzo (widow to Frank Kalimuzo). (Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

“The late Frank Kalimuzo remains an exemplar of dedicated public service and transformational leadership. We should all pick a leaf from his work,” he said.

Kalimuzo was also the first Head of Public Service, first Ugandan Secretary to Cabinet, and first Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister.

According to Ireeta, these trailblazing roles helped lay the foundation for Uganda’s administrative structures.

Speakers honoured Kalimuzo’s leadership as having been characterised by humility, service, and an unwavering commitment to the common good.

'A calling'

Prof. Moses Muhwezi, the Principal of Makerere University Business School (MUBS). (Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

Prof. Moses Muhwezi, the Principal of Makerere University Business School (MUBS), emphasised Kalimuzo’s embodiment of servant leadership.

“Mr Frank Kalimuzo’s life teaches us that public service is not a career choice but a calling — a commitment to using one’s talents, position, and influence to advance the common good."

Muhwezi said Kalimuzo’s tenure was marked by placing institutional objectives above personal ambitions.

“When faced with unprecedented resistance from various quarters, Mr Kalimuzo responded not with defensiveness but with dedication to proving himself through service."

Muhwezi called for public institutions to cultivate leaders who prioritise service over self-interest.

“We need public institutions that are fit for purpose and leaders who understand that their primary responsibility is to serve, not to be served.

Dr Lorna Magara, the Makerere University Council chairperson. (Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

'His silence is a witness'

Friday's event also featured remarks from Esther Kalimuzo, the widow of the late vice-chancellor.

Mrs Esther Kalimuzo. (Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

“Although to-date the family has no grave, no explanation and no closure, his silence has not been wasted. On the contrary, it has become a witness, and his disappearance has become a declaration that Uganda has known men who refused to bow," she said.

Born in 1925 in Kigezi, Kalimuzo's life was marked by his dedication to public service.

Nearly five decades later, in 1972, under Idi Amin's regime, he was reportedly abducted by security personnel and was never seen alive again.

Looking back, his widow reflected on the challenges faced by their family following her husband’s disappearance, noting that their children were raised with memory instead of presence, with principle instead of protection.

“And yet, through all the hardship, uncertainty and pain, we endured. We overcame it. Today, our children stand tall. They are proud citizens of Uganda, and residents in nations far beyond,” she said.

Esther Kalimuzo's 90th Birthday cake cutting. (Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

'Don't be distracted'

The 2nd Frank Kalimuzo Memorial Lecture served as a powerful reminder of the values that should guide public institutions.

As Prof. Muhwezi aptly stated: “When given an opportunity to serve, don’t be distracted. Offer skilled leadership execution even in the middle of the storm.”

The Frank Kalimuzo Central Teaching Facility, dedicated in his honour, stands as a testament to the late vice-chancellor's contributions and a symbol of the university’s commitment to nurturing future leaders who embody the principles of service and excellence.

The lessons from Kalimuzo’s life remain pertinent.

Public institutions are called upon to develop leaders who are not only skilled but also deeply committed to serving the common good, ensuring that the legacy of service endures for generations to come.

Frank Kalimuzo at a glance

Kalimuzo was appointed as Makerere University's first Ugandan vice-chancellor on July 1, 1970, by President Apollo Milton Obote.

He was a graduate of Makerere University (BA in Education, 1946), the University College of Aberystwyth in Wales (Honours Degree in Economics, 1955), and Wadham College, Oxford (Overseas Course B, 1956).

During his brief tenure as a distinguished public servant, Kalimuzo introduced new disciplines such as Commerce, Forestry, Law, and Technology, and established Veterinary Medicine programmes.

He also initiated diploma courses in Music, Dance, and Drama, and oversaw the expansion of the Main Library and Albert Cook Medical Library in 1972.