Bikangaga Wins Sh20m Katama Award

By A. G. Musamali and Annette Birungi FORMER Public Service Commission chairman, Can. John Bikangaga, has won the sh20m inaugural Agnes Katama Integrity Award (AKIA). The award recognises Ugandans who excel in the field of good governance in general and procurement reform in government institutions in particular. The award is in memory of Agnes Katama, who was chief executive of SWIPCO, an international procurement and pre-shipment consultancy. Katama died in a motor accident on the Mubende-Fort Portal Road last year. The AKIA vetting committee chairman, Jotham Tumwesigye (IGG), announced yesterday that Bikangaga had beaten over 40 other nominees. Present were AKIA patron Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala, Auditor General John Muwanga, SWIPCO managing director Robert Mwesigwa and Can. Grace Kaiso. Tumwesigye told journalists at the International Conference Centre that the six finalist nominees included Justice Julia Ssebutinde, former Electoral Commission chairman Stephen Akabway, Finance Permanent Secretary Chris Kassami and veteran columnist F. D. R. Gureme. Tumwesigye said, “The decision of the committee to select Bikangaga as the first winner was not based on the number of public service jobs he has held, rather on the high level of integrity and dedication with which he rendered his service.” “He is firm but simple, quiet but inspiring, and he is a fair, impartial and just man. His rare qualities as a public servant were not only recognised by the colonial government which appointed him to high public service positions, that few if any African of that time, could be appointed to. “All post-independence governments have also recognised his qualities through the various positions he has held.” Tumwesigye said in spite of the many public service jobs Bikangaga has held over years, he remains by Ugandan standards of material acquisitions, a relatively poor man. Wamala said such people should be recognised. Ends