Kasekende’s star brighter
HE came into the media spotlight in September 2002. This was during the highly publicised controversy that saw government recall then alternate executive director at the World Bank and former Energy minister Richard Kaijuka.<br>Government then nominated Dr. Louis Austin Kasekende the deputy governo
By Sebidde Kiryowa
HE came into the media spotlight in September 2002. This was during the highly publicised controversy that saw government recall then alternate executive director at the World Bank and former Energy minister Richard Kaijuka.
Government then nominated Dr. Louis Austin Kasekende the deputy governor, Bank of Uganda (BOU), to replace Kaijuka who was set to become a full director in October 2002.
As Executive Director for Africa Group I Constituency at the World Bank, Kasekende was in charge of 22 English/Portuguese-speaking African nations.
That could have seemed to many as the height of the achievements for a man who started out in the banking industry 20 years ago as a senior principal banking officer and rose through the ranks to become the second in charge at BOU.
But Kasekende’s winning streak continues. Earlier this week, Kasekende, who turns 48 in August 29, was appointed Chief Economist of the African Development Bank (ADB) based in Tunis, Tunisia.
His appointment, which is initially for a period of three years effective May 1, 2006. David Opiokello, the Executive Director Finance, will provisionally replace him.
Both professionally and by way of social disposition, Kasekende has been extolled as a dynamic person.
“Allow me to record our gratitude to Dr. Kasekende for his significant contribution in the strengthening of the financial sector, especially his role in the successful resolution of the former Uganda Commercial Bank Ltd and the general administration of the BOU. We shall greatly miss him,†Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile says.
“He is very approachable. Louis is extremely professional,†E. B. Kasozi, the executive director operations, BOU said earlier.
“His strength lies in his dynamism, straight-forwardness, open-minded and flexibility. BOU has a lot of old-school type administrators who still believe in dragging their feet on issues –– bureaucracy. Not this guy,†says one business reporter.
Being an administrator has not numbed the PhD holder’s knack for academics. He has written many papers with prominent economists like Prof. Lipumba, Prof. Ngeno, Dr. Ssemogerere and Dr. Alingi.
Kasekende is a member of Uganda Economics Association. He is also a member of African Economics Research Consortium. He has been the chairman of Micro Finance Competence Centre Committee of Uganda Institute of Bankers.
But Kasekende is not all about work and no play. Those who know him say he is a jovial father and husband. He is married to Edith Nsubuga and they have three children: George, Vivienne and Stuart. They stay in Naguru.
“When I am not busy, I play squash,†he says.
In the midst of all this, Kasekende does not forget his God. “I go to Christ the King Church in Kampala,†he says.
In 1980, he graduated with a first class degree in Economics from Makerere University in 1980 and was immediately appointed a special assistant.
Between 1980 and 1981, Kasekende taught Economics at Makerere. In 1982, he got a diploma in Econometrics with a distinction; an M.A (Economics) in 1983 and a Ph.D in Econometrics in 1986 from the University of Manchester, UK where he shortly tutored in the Econometrics department from 1982 - 1984.
On his return, he joined BOU as a senior principal banking officer, research department (1986-1987). He rose through the ranks to executive director, research & policy function in 1994. In 1999 President Museveni appointed him deputy governor, BOU on a five-year renewable contract.
Only three years into the job, he got the World Bank job, a post he held for two years (2002 -2004). “This was a great opportunity for Uganda. He was granted leave of absence from BOU while he held the post,†Tumusiime-Mutebile says.
Kasekende, whose parents hail from Kiteezi on Gayaza Road was born at Nsambya Hospital. He spent his childhood in Nsambya and Kabwangasi in Bukedi. He attended St. Peter’s Primary School, Nsambya, Kabwangasi Primary School, then Savio Primary School in Kisubi. He also attended Jinja Senior Secondary School. His father, B.K. Kasekende was an educationist. The old man cultivated a love for books in his son, an interest that helped to determine the direction of his career.
Kasekende says he had a happy childhood. “My family was always there for me,†he recalls.
HE came into the media spotlight in September 2002. This was during the highly publicised controversy that saw government recall then alternate executive director at the World Bank and former Energy minister Richard Kaijuka.
Government then nominated Dr. Louis Austin Kasekende the deputy governor, Bank of Uganda (BOU), to replace Kaijuka who was set to become a full director in October 2002.
As Executive Director for Africa Group I Constituency at the World Bank, Kasekende was in charge of 22 English/Portuguese-speaking African nations.
That could have seemed to many as the height of the achievements for a man who started out in the banking industry 20 years ago as a senior principal banking officer and rose through the ranks to become the second in charge at BOU.
But Kasekende’s winning streak continues. Earlier this week, Kasekende, who turns 48 in August 29, was appointed Chief Economist of the African Development Bank (ADB) based in Tunis, Tunisia.
His appointment, which is initially for a period of three years effective May 1, 2006. David Opiokello, the Executive Director Finance, will provisionally replace him.
Both professionally and by way of social disposition, Kasekende has been extolled as a dynamic person.
“Allow me to record our gratitude to Dr. Kasekende for his significant contribution in the strengthening of the financial sector, especially his role in the successful resolution of the former Uganda Commercial Bank Ltd and the general administration of the BOU. We shall greatly miss him,†Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile says.
“He is very approachable. Louis is extremely professional,†E. B. Kasozi, the executive director operations, BOU said earlier.
“His strength lies in his dynamism, straight-forwardness, open-minded and flexibility. BOU has a lot of old-school type administrators who still believe in dragging their feet on issues –– bureaucracy. Not this guy,†says one business reporter.
Being an administrator has not numbed the PhD holder’s knack for academics. He has written many papers with prominent economists like Prof. Lipumba, Prof. Ngeno, Dr. Ssemogerere and Dr. Alingi.
Kasekende is a member of Uganda Economics Association. He is also a member of African Economics Research Consortium. He has been the chairman of Micro Finance Competence Centre Committee of Uganda Institute of Bankers.
But Kasekende is not all about work and no play. Those who know him say he is a jovial father and husband. He is married to Edith Nsubuga and they have three children: George, Vivienne and Stuart. They stay in Naguru.
“When I am not busy, I play squash,†he says.
In the midst of all this, Kasekende does not forget his God. “I go to Christ the King Church in Kampala,†he says.
In 1980, he graduated with a first class degree in Economics from Makerere University in 1980 and was immediately appointed a special assistant.
Between 1980 and 1981, Kasekende taught Economics at Makerere. In 1982, he got a diploma in Econometrics with a distinction; an M.A (Economics) in 1983 and a Ph.D in Econometrics in 1986 from the University of Manchester, UK where he shortly tutored in the Econometrics department from 1982 - 1984.
On his return, he joined BOU as a senior principal banking officer, research department (1986-1987). He rose through the ranks to executive director, research & policy function in 1994. In 1999 President Museveni appointed him deputy governor, BOU on a five-year renewable contract.
Only three years into the job, he got the World Bank job, a post he held for two years (2002 -2004). “This was a great opportunity for Uganda. He was granted leave of absence from BOU while he held the post,†Tumusiime-Mutebile says.
Kasekende, whose parents hail from Kiteezi on Gayaza Road was born at Nsambya Hospital. He spent his childhood in Nsambya and Kabwangasi in Bukedi. He attended St. Peter’s Primary School, Nsambya, Kabwangasi Primary School, then Savio Primary School in Kisubi. He also attended Jinja Senior Secondary School. His father, B.K. Kasekende was an educationist. The old man cultivated a love for books in his son, an interest that helped to determine the direction of his career.
Kasekende says he had a happy childhood. “My family was always there for me,†he recalls.