Kibirige Mayanja

Jan 09, 2001

He had vowed to remain apolitical until 1966, when Milton Obote's soldiers invaded the Kabaka's palace.

By Anthony Mugeere He had vowed to remain apolitical until 1966, when Milton Obote's soldiers invaded the Kabaka's palace. The abrogation of the 1962 Constitution and abolition of monarchies forced him to join politics. Kibirige Muhammed Mayanja is now in the thick of it all and wants to become head of state. "I became very uncomfortable when the Kabaka's palace was attacked," says Mayanja, one of the presidential candidates. "The overthrow of the Constitution and declaration of the Nakivubo pronouncements were clear signs that the future of this country would be doomed unless we struggled for justice." Born on May 30, 1950, Mayanja was the first of seven children of the family of Noor Kasule. Growing up in a family that eked a living by cultivating crops, was not rosy for the man who surprised even himself when he entered the presidential race five years ago. "The family didn't have such money and going to school was by chance," he recalls. "My fees was paid by elder brother, Sheikh Ahmed Mukasa, the former Mufti of Kibuli." He went to Mende primary school, Namusera Primary School and Tamu Koran School before joining Kibuli Secondary School for his 'O' and 'A' level education. In 1974, Mayanja joined Makerere University where he did a Bachelor of Commerce degree. He joined the Ministry of Education as education planner during which he gained valuable experience on state management. "I was influential in setting up the Education Policy Review Commission under Prof. Senteza Kajubi," he explains. "I also planned the construction of many secondary schools and was in charge of handling the ministry budget, among other responsibilities." Mayanja did a postgraduate diploma in Education Management and Planning at the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom, before pursuing a Masters degree in Economic Policy and Management at Makerere University. He then joined Makerere University as director of planning and has been a member of the University Central Executive Committee since 1990. The list of publications he has authored includes: The Social Background of Makerere University Students and the Potential for Cost-sharing, Employment Opportunities for Makerere University Graduates: A first destination survey of New Graduates, and A Comparative study of Graduates of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Sciences at Makerere University. Mayanja married Mariam, his first wife in 1979 and they have five children. He married Hadijja, his second wife, in 1983 with whom they have two children. He enjoys travel and playing table tennis. "I also go to theatre when I get time," he adds. Mayanja's promises: To ensure that there is justice to all Ugandans. To revitalise the economy of this country. To streamline education and other social services. To promote morality among Ugandans by providing exemplary leadership based on self-discipline and restrain. To stop wars within Uganda and beyond its borders. To encourage African Unity. Ends Hashim Mwenyi By Tegule Gawaya Abeid Hashim Mwenyi was born to Abeid and Asumin Mwenyi of Busajjabwankuba village, Namunsi sub-county, Mbale. He attended Malongwe Primary School, Buikwe, Mukono district. Nkoma Secondary School, and Masaba S.S, Budadiri. In 1996, he enrolled at the Makerere Institute of Environment and Critical Skills where he earned a Diploma in Environmental studies in 1997. In 1999 he completed his B.A Political Science and French, Makerere University, and beefed it up with a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education from Islamic University in Uganda, Mbale. This is not Mwenyi's first taste of politics. Mwenyi first sipped from the well of politics way back in 1989, when he was elected RCIII secretary for Youth in Mbale Municipality. In 1996, he contested the Bungokho County Parliamentary seat and lost by a margin. Mwenyi had not seriously considered running for president; preferring to back Col. Kiiza Besigye, as vice chairman for the Besigye Task Force in Mbale. But disagreements over policy and programmes articulated by Besigye led Mwenyi to pull out and do everything for himself. He broke away in December 2000, and organised himself to give his opponents a real good run for their money. Mwenyi resides in Nkoma, Mbale municipality. He is married "to women" and has eight children. Mwenyi's promises: A programme based on the emancipation of marginalised interest groups in Uganda who include women, youth, Hutu, Kumam, Karimojong, Nubians and Muslims. To fight corruption. He promises a Truth Commission at which the corrupt will confess their sins and receive amnesty. lNegotiate subsidised fuel prices from the Arab world as a measure to control commodity prices. Promote agro-processing industries to add value to Uganda's exports. Groom President Museveni into a regional ambassador of peace, "instead of letting him rot away in Rwakitura". "He is too big a fish to continue swimming in this small pond," he says. (By print time, Mwenyi had not been gazetted) Ends Charles Senkubuge By Elvis Basudde Kyeyune Charles Senkubuga a.k.a. Siasa was born on December 2, 1962, in Old Kampala, to the late Fenekansi Mugambe and Norah Nakintu Mugambe of Sanda in Busiro. He is the last born out of 17 children. He is married to Agnes, and they have two children. Senkubuga attended Sanda Primary School and Uganda Airforce in Entebbe for his primary education. He joined Old Kampala Senior Secondary School for his 'O' levels before proceeding to Kampala High School and Makerere High School respectively for his A level. He later joined Makerere University where he did a Bachelor of Arts (literature and philosophy). He was the deputy speaker of the Complex Hall of Makerere University. Currently, Senkubuge is pursuing a Masters degree in Music, Dance and Drama. After graduating from Makerere University with a Bachelors degree, Senkubuge worked with Walford Meadows, a clearing and forwarding company, as a junior clerk and was later promoted to the rank of airfreight manager. He also worked as airfreight coordinator in Interfreight Panalpina, before he left to concentrate his creative abilities in theatre. In the theatre world, he was the chairman of Artists Development Project, chairman of Mosquitoes (group of artists), chairman Bakayimbira Dramactors, Board member of Pride Academy, and right now working as a senior presenter with the Radio Simba. He has written more than 20 plays including Agali Amakula, the popular Ndiwulira, Omunaala, and Bukedde Banyanike among others. He got involved in politics by writing political plays. He says he has analysed the politics of Uganda from a literary perspective. "Art in Uganda is politics." This is his conviction. Senkubuge's slogan is : New faces, new ideas for a new Uganda. Senkubuge's promises: To take electricity and water to the villages. To drive away darkness from the city by installing electric lights. To cater for the disabled and the old by giving them monthly allowances. To establish coolers in our local markets so that perishable commodities can be contained. To take railway transport to the food basket of Uganda to various places like Masaka, Mbalala, Kabale where the food that feeds the nation comes from. To revive some government departments like UTC, Railways and others that are no more To promote sports, athletics and theatre if possible to the international level. We shall introduce Universal Technical Education to supplement Universal Primary Education. To ensure that medicine is in all health hospitals and to highly subside the cost sharing. To make sure that we preserve the greenness of Uganda and protect our environment. Ends

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});