Kigyagi Mbarara’s liberator?
May 11, 2005
JOHN Kigyagi would never have been a Member of Parliament for Mbarara Municipality taking over from Winnie Byanyima had it not been that we live in politically modern times. This is because in the African traditional society, a woman never bequeaths her belongings to a man — Byanyima had the seat.
JOHN Kigyagi would never have been a Member of Parliament for Mbarara Municipality taking over from Winnie Byanyima had it not been that we live in politically modern times. This is because in the African traditional society, a woman never bequeaths her belongings to a man — Byanyima had the seat.
Born February 25, 1955 to Paulina Bakitengyire and Sepiria Kabikire on the shores of River Kagera, Isingiro, Kigyagi went to Mbarara High School, St Henry’s Kitovu for advanced level and later Makerere University for his Bsc in agriculture.
Kigyagi’s father, who was a polygamist worked as a miner in Kikagati to earn a living for his enormous family.
His leadership abilities were first tested during his secondary school days at Mbarara High School in 1973. In S.3 he was made house prefect for Ibadan House. At St. Henry’s College Kitovu he was elected an assistant house captain and at he was a member of the swimming club, Sharks.
In 1980, Kigyagi, then a fresh graduate from Makerere University enlisted in the army and had military training at Kabamba. On why he made such a decision, Kigyagi says, “After the 1979 Tanzanian invasion of Uganda, we were aware we had not achieved total liberation. And with the coming of Obote, there was a feeling that he was to overthrow the revolution and indeed, it happened.â€
Kigyagi’s career in the armed forces was shortlived. Later he got a job as an agricultural officer and was honourably discharged from the army by Oyite Ojok.
Kigyagi’s affair with the Movement can be traced to the time he became a supporter of the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) party in 1980.
“At that time, UPM was new. The politics of UPM was appealing and we thought it was the one we should follow. It was easy to understand the programmes of UPM and it was appealing because the people involved were nearer to our age group than those in UPC.
The fresh graduates at the time included Tinyefuza, Mugisha Muntu and Jim Muhwezi,†he says.
During the five-year NRA armed struggle (from 1981-1986), although Kigyagi did not actively participate, he says, “We would give moral support and material support. After the struggle in 1986, we got on board.â€
Kigyagi is not a first timer in the corridors of the parliamentary building or the plenary seats. In 1989 he contested for the NRC seat for Isingiro constituency and rooted the then incumbent, Ignatius Katetegwire. Later in 1996, Kigyagi, seeking another term in office, contested but lost to Johnson Nkuuhe.
Never one to give up easily, Kigyagi had another shot at the Mbarara mayoral seat in 1998, losing to Robert Rutehenda. It was then that he went into limbo but later ‘awoke’ in 2000 when he was appointed resident district commissioner (RDC) for Ntungamo. Later in 2003, he was made RDC for Kamwenge.
Kigyagi also holds MSc. Conservation Biology from Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) and a postgraduate diploma in agriculture economics from the Earth University, Norway.
One of the reasons why rivals thought he was an unlikely successor to Byanyima is because principally, Kigyagi is an academician. He has carried out several consultancy works for various nature and wildlife organisations. He is a member of the Soil Conservation society of Uganda amongst other organisations. “I am married to nature,†he says.
Byanyima is famous for her maverick stunts against the Movement, to which she belonged. Little wonder that Kigyagi’s victory was good news to President Yoweri Museveni’s ears.
“Kigyagi akazaahura Mbarara,†(Kigyagi has liberated Mbarara) President Yoweri Museveni commented while on a visit to Kamwenge district.
Although her constituents blame her for abandoning them, Byanyima’s contributions during the CA and sixth parliament are indelible and well scripted. But equally, Kigyagi’s achievements during the NRC days are well-documented.
He was a member of the committee on Custodian Board, vice chairperson of the Parastatal Accounts Committee. During the review of the Divestiture Bill, alongside NRC members, who included Basoga Nsadhu (RIP), Francis Butagira, Wasswa Nkalubo (RIP) and Yona Kanyomozi, Kigyagi played an instrumental role in recommending that the Government should leave business to the private sector. Also, the committee led to the creation of the office of IGG.
During the bye-election campaigns, Kigyagi’s rivals dismissed him as a failure, who had contested twice and lost. Firstly, losing to Nkuuhe and later to Rutehenda.
He has seven children. He separated with his first wife Edith Busingye, a medical doctor currently living in the United Kingdom with two of their children.
His current wife is Irene Ahabwe, a teacher.
Born February 25, 1955 to Paulina Bakitengyire and Sepiria Kabikire on the shores of River Kagera, Isingiro, Kigyagi went to Mbarara High School, St Henry’s Kitovu for advanced level and later Makerere University for his Bsc in agriculture.
Kigyagi’s father, who was a polygamist worked as a miner in Kikagati to earn a living for his enormous family.
His leadership abilities were first tested during his secondary school days at Mbarara High School in 1973. In S.3 he was made house prefect for Ibadan House. At St. Henry’s College Kitovu he was elected an assistant house captain and at he was a member of the swimming club, Sharks.
In 1980, Kigyagi, then a fresh graduate from Makerere University enlisted in the army and had military training at Kabamba. On why he made such a decision, Kigyagi says, “After the 1979 Tanzanian invasion of Uganda, we were aware we had not achieved total liberation. And with the coming of Obote, there was a feeling that he was to overthrow the revolution and indeed, it happened.â€
Kigyagi’s career in the armed forces was shortlived. Later he got a job as an agricultural officer and was honourably discharged from the army by Oyite Ojok.
Kigyagi’s affair with the Movement can be traced to the time he became a supporter of the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) party in 1980.
“At that time, UPM was new. The politics of UPM was appealing and we thought it was the one we should follow. It was easy to understand the programmes of UPM and it was appealing because the people involved were nearer to our age group than those in UPC.
The fresh graduates at the time included Tinyefuza, Mugisha Muntu and Jim Muhwezi,†he says.
During the five-year NRA armed struggle (from 1981-1986), although Kigyagi did not actively participate, he says, “We would give moral support and material support. After the struggle in 1986, we got on board.â€
Kigyagi is not a first timer in the corridors of the parliamentary building or the plenary seats. In 1989 he contested for the NRC seat for Isingiro constituency and rooted the then incumbent, Ignatius Katetegwire. Later in 1996, Kigyagi, seeking another term in office, contested but lost to Johnson Nkuuhe.
Never one to give up easily, Kigyagi had another shot at the Mbarara mayoral seat in 1998, losing to Robert Rutehenda. It was then that he went into limbo but later ‘awoke’ in 2000 when he was appointed resident district commissioner (RDC) for Ntungamo. Later in 2003, he was made RDC for Kamwenge.
Kigyagi also holds MSc. Conservation Biology from Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) and a postgraduate diploma in agriculture economics from the Earth University, Norway.
One of the reasons why rivals thought he was an unlikely successor to Byanyima is because principally, Kigyagi is an academician. He has carried out several consultancy works for various nature and wildlife organisations. He is a member of the Soil Conservation society of Uganda amongst other organisations. “I am married to nature,†he says.
Byanyima is famous for her maverick stunts against the Movement, to which she belonged. Little wonder that Kigyagi’s victory was good news to President Yoweri Museveni’s ears.
“Kigyagi akazaahura Mbarara,†(Kigyagi has liberated Mbarara) President Yoweri Museveni commented while on a visit to Kamwenge district.
Although her constituents blame her for abandoning them, Byanyima’s contributions during the CA and sixth parliament are indelible and well scripted. But equally, Kigyagi’s achievements during the NRC days are well-documented.
He was a member of the committee on Custodian Board, vice chairperson of the Parastatal Accounts Committee. During the review of the Divestiture Bill, alongside NRC members, who included Basoga Nsadhu (RIP), Francis Butagira, Wasswa Nkalubo (RIP) and Yona Kanyomozi, Kigyagi played an instrumental role in recommending that the Government should leave business to the private sector. Also, the committee led to the creation of the office of IGG.
During the bye-election campaigns, Kigyagi’s rivals dismissed him as a failure, who had contested twice and lost. Firstly, losing to Nkuuhe and later to Rutehenda.
He has seven children. He separated with his first wife Edith Busingye, a medical doctor currently living in the United Kingdom with two of their children.
His current wife is Irene Ahabwe, a teacher.