‘My mother taught me to be humble’
During a meeting with Mugisha Muntu at Parliament, Rubanda County MP Henry Banyenzaki jokingly addressed him as ‘His Excellency’, a title reserved for the head of state. A bemused Muntu smiled coyly like a shy primary school kid not sure how to respond to a colleague’s banter.
By Asuman Bisiika
During a meeting with Mugisha Muntu at Parliament, Rubanda County MP Henry Banyenzaki jokingly addressed him as ‘His Excellency’, a title reserved for the head of state. A bemused Muntu smiled coyly like a shy primary school kid not sure how to respond to a colleague’s banter.
A former army commander who retired at the rank of Maj Gen, Mugisha Muntu is a man many Ugandans are politically looking at with keen interest. After leaving the army, he participated in the process that led to the formation of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) led by the exiled Dr Kiiza Besigye. Political analyst after the other say Muntu will most likely stand for presidency in 2006 if Dr Besigye does not return from exile in time.
Bugweri County MP, Abdul Katuntu says Muntu is modest and friendly.
“Given the political and administrative mess we are in, I think Uganda needs a president in the mould of Muntu to redirect the democratic process.†Asked what qualities Muntu would take to State House if elected, Katuntu says it is teamwork and respect for divergent ideas. “These are Muntu’s strong points,†says Katuntu. Muntu is currently a member of the East African Legislative Assembly.
Most of the people who have worked with him say he is amiable and modest. But beyond the façade of a friendly and modest man, lies a strong character with commitment and singular purposefulness.
Not to forget mention of accusations that he is a very strict disciplinarian. He concedes: “I used a very firm hand on matters of discipline when I was an army commander. I don’t regret the consequences of my firmness though. The army is an institution whose professionalism can only be appreciated by exercising ethical and professional discipline. And on that, I am very firm.â€
Muntu was born on October 7, 1958, the fourth-born of Enoch Ruzima and Idah Matama Muntuyera. He will be 47 in October. His siblings are Joy, Flavia (married to Engole of Apac district) and Herbert (MP for Kajara County). Enoch Muntuyera was a minister in the Ankole Kingdom that earned Mugisha Muntu a relatively privileged social status and livelihood. He was to contest for a parliamentary seat in the aborted 1971 General Elections on a UPC platform.
However, the Amin coup of January 25, 1971 changed all those political plans and the old man was to die in exile in a Nairobi hospital in 1977. When Obote returned to power 1980, Mzee Enoch’s remains were reburied in Kajara and a local school named after him. Kitunga High School became Muntuyera High School.
“One of the memorable things from my early childhood is that our mother refused us to wear our shoes at Kitunga Primary School, the village school which we joined when the family returned to the village after father’s resignation from his ministerial job in Mbarara.
Our mother only allowed us to wear our shoes on Sunday when going for church. I never understood why she did this.
Otherwise, at school, we were like the other pupils — bare-footed. However, this act alone was later to have a very big impact on my life. I started looking at myself as just one of the others.â€
Muntu went to Mbarara Junior Primary School for P1 and P2. He was at Kitunga Primary School for P3 up to P7. He did his O’Level at Kitunga High School. He did his A’Level at Makerere College School from where he joined Makerere University to pursue a degree in Political Science from 1979 to 1981.
At Makerere University, Muntu participated in student politics. He was the vice president of the students’ guild under the presidency of Werikhe Wotuwa.
Some of his alumni at Makerere are Brig Henry Tumukunde, Lt Gen Aronda Nyakairima, Chebrion Barishaki, The New Vision columnist Opiyo Oloya, Swilikei Kissa, a journalist with UTV and Benon Biraro, Deputy Army Chief of Staff.
Most of his alumni working with the Government preferred to remain anonymous, but agreed that Muntu was a principled student leader.
“He was a honest man. I still remember the time he was in charge of the guild canteen. The canteen would be allocated beer at factory price. But before Muntu took charge, those responsible used to get the beer at factory price and sell it on the open market for a profit; leaving the canteen with very minimal supplies.
“During Muntu’s time, the canteen had enough beer and at factory price,†says the alumnus.
From the university, Muntu, who would have easily got a job given his family’s UPC background, joined the NRA rebels who were fighting the UPC government. Four months in the bush, Muntu was shot in the left leg and chest.
When I was hospitalised in Kampala, I had the opportunity to abandon rebellion; but when my wounds healed I went back to the bush. I did not have any personal problem with the regime, but I have this strong belief that your only security lies in the security for all.â€
He was a Political Commissar in the rebel Mondlane Unit and was later made its Intelligence Officer (IO). He later became Kabarega Unit’s IO from where he was made Director of Civil Intelligence while Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi was Director of Military Intelligence.
“About 1983, Jim and I were to swap roles; Jim became the Director of Civil Intelligence and I was made the Director of Military Intelligence.â€
“In 1987, I went to the Soviet Union for training. When I returned, I was appointed Chief Political Commissar taking over from Col. Amanya Mushega. I was later made the Division commander of 5th Division in Lira from where I was appointed Army Commander late 1989.â€
A Makerere University alumnus, now a senior UPDF officer says, “Muntu is a likable person. He is modest, but he sometimes harbours strong views on politics. I think that is why he managed to rise through the army ranks when the army still had a political character and image."
Muntu is married to Julia and has two children.
Julia Muntu is the daughter of John Kakonge, the legendary Uganda People Congress (UPC) activist of the 60s.
Both the Kakonge family and the Muntuyera family have a background of political activism that dates way back to the politics of the 60s.
Julia Muntu works with East African Development Bank.
Muntu and Julia are born-again Christians. Their children Aroho Ankunda 11, a boy and Kansime Mukama 9, a girl, go to Heritage Academy in Kansanga.
During a meeting with Mugisha Muntu at Parliament, Rubanda County MP Henry Banyenzaki jokingly addressed him as ‘His Excellency’, a title reserved for the head of state. A bemused Muntu smiled coyly like a shy primary school kid not sure how to respond to a colleague’s banter.
A former army commander who retired at the rank of Maj Gen, Mugisha Muntu is a man many Ugandans are politically looking at with keen interest. After leaving the army, he participated in the process that led to the formation of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) led by the exiled Dr Kiiza Besigye. Political analyst after the other say Muntu will most likely stand for presidency in 2006 if Dr Besigye does not return from exile in time.
Bugweri County MP, Abdul Katuntu says Muntu is modest and friendly.
“Given the political and administrative mess we are in, I think Uganda needs a president in the mould of Muntu to redirect the democratic process.†Asked what qualities Muntu would take to State House if elected, Katuntu says it is teamwork and respect for divergent ideas. “These are Muntu’s strong points,†says Katuntu. Muntu is currently a member of the East African Legislative Assembly.
Most of the people who have worked with him say he is amiable and modest. But beyond the façade of a friendly and modest man, lies a strong character with commitment and singular purposefulness.
Not to forget mention of accusations that he is a very strict disciplinarian. He concedes: “I used a very firm hand on matters of discipline when I was an army commander. I don’t regret the consequences of my firmness though. The army is an institution whose professionalism can only be appreciated by exercising ethical and professional discipline. And on that, I am very firm.â€
Muntu was born on October 7, 1958, the fourth-born of Enoch Ruzima and Idah Matama Muntuyera. He will be 47 in October. His siblings are Joy, Flavia (married to Engole of Apac district) and Herbert (MP for Kajara County). Enoch Muntuyera was a minister in the Ankole Kingdom that earned Mugisha Muntu a relatively privileged social status and livelihood. He was to contest for a parliamentary seat in the aborted 1971 General Elections on a UPC platform.
However, the Amin coup of January 25, 1971 changed all those political plans and the old man was to die in exile in a Nairobi hospital in 1977. When Obote returned to power 1980, Mzee Enoch’s remains were reburied in Kajara and a local school named after him. Kitunga High School became Muntuyera High School.
“One of the memorable things from my early childhood is that our mother refused us to wear our shoes at Kitunga Primary School, the village school which we joined when the family returned to the village after father’s resignation from his ministerial job in Mbarara.
Our mother only allowed us to wear our shoes on Sunday when going for church. I never understood why she did this.
Otherwise, at school, we were like the other pupils — bare-footed. However, this act alone was later to have a very big impact on my life. I started looking at myself as just one of the others.â€
Muntu went to Mbarara Junior Primary School for P1 and P2. He was at Kitunga Primary School for P3 up to P7. He did his O’Level at Kitunga High School. He did his A’Level at Makerere College School from where he joined Makerere University to pursue a degree in Political Science from 1979 to 1981.
At Makerere University, Muntu participated in student politics. He was the vice president of the students’ guild under the presidency of Werikhe Wotuwa.
Some of his alumni at Makerere are Brig Henry Tumukunde, Lt Gen Aronda Nyakairima, Chebrion Barishaki, The New Vision columnist Opiyo Oloya, Swilikei Kissa, a journalist with UTV and Benon Biraro, Deputy Army Chief of Staff.
Most of his alumni working with the Government preferred to remain anonymous, but agreed that Muntu was a principled student leader.
“He was a honest man. I still remember the time he was in charge of the guild canteen. The canteen would be allocated beer at factory price. But before Muntu took charge, those responsible used to get the beer at factory price and sell it on the open market for a profit; leaving the canteen with very minimal supplies.
“During Muntu’s time, the canteen had enough beer and at factory price,†says the alumnus.
From the university, Muntu, who would have easily got a job given his family’s UPC background, joined the NRA rebels who were fighting the UPC government. Four months in the bush, Muntu was shot in the left leg and chest.
When I was hospitalised in Kampala, I had the opportunity to abandon rebellion; but when my wounds healed I went back to the bush. I did not have any personal problem with the regime, but I have this strong belief that your only security lies in the security for all.â€
He was a Political Commissar in the rebel Mondlane Unit and was later made its Intelligence Officer (IO). He later became Kabarega Unit’s IO from where he was made Director of Civil Intelligence while Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi was Director of Military Intelligence.
“About 1983, Jim and I were to swap roles; Jim became the Director of Civil Intelligence and I was made the Director of Military Intelligence.â€
“In 1987, I went to the Soviet Union for training. When I returned, I was appointed Chief Political Commissar taking over from Col. Amanya Mushega. I was later made the Division commander of 5th Division in Lira from where I was appointed Army Commander late 1989.â€
A Makerere University alumnus, now a senior UPDF officer says, “Muntu is a likable person. He is modest, but he sometimes harbours strong views on politics. I think that is why he managed to rise through the army ranks when the army still had a political character and image."
Muntu is married to Julia and has two children.
Julia Muntu is the daughter of John Kakonge, the legendary Uganda People Congress (UPC) activist of the 60s.
Both the Kakonge family and the Muntuyera family have a background of political activism that dates way back to the politics of the 60s.
Julia Muntu works with East African Development Bank.
Muntu and Julia are born-again Christians. Their children Aroho Ankunda 11, a boy and Kansime Mukama 9, a girl, go to Heritage Academy in Kansanga.