Celebrating Abu Mayanja the statesman
Jul 29, 2007
IT is an uphill task to measure up to great persons. People who live a full life and leave great legacies, tend to live as much in life as they do in death.
By Stephen Ssenkaaba
IT is an uphill task to measure up to great persons. People who live a full life and leave great legacies, tend to live as much in life as they do in death.
Abu Mayanja, who passed on two years ago, is one such man. An advocate for civil liberties and the rule of law, Mayanja championed the cause for development, peace and good governance.
He, together with Iganatius Kangave Musaazi, co-founded the Uganda National Congress, the first ever-political party in Uganda.
He contributed to the struggle for Uganda’s independence; he was a pan-Africanist and nationalist who dedicated 50 years of his political career to serving his nation.
Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, the Kabaka of Buganda, described him as an “ingenious, bold, upright, modest and incorruptible person who gave exceptional service to his country and Buganda for 50 years.â€
President Yoweri Museveni called him: “A very hard-working, visionary man of great enterprise, a statesman who served his country in many capacities ... and whose legacy should be perpetuated.â€
At 5:30pm today, Mayanja’s family and friends will seek to perpetuate his legacy at the inaugural Abu Mayanja memorial lecture. The lecture under the theme: “Secular Law and the Islamic Values — Abu Mayanja in Comparative Perspective†will be conducted by renowned scholar Prof Ali Mazrui at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel Rwenzori Ball Room.
The event will also mark the launch of the Abu Mayanja Foundation by the Nabagereka of Buganda, Sylvia Nagginda. The foundation is aimed at supporting socio-economic development.
“We might not be able to fill his shoes, but we hope to continue the legacy of his tremendous work in the political and socio-economic development of Uganda through this foundation,†says Uthman Mayanja, the foundation director and son to the fallen statesman.
He said the foundation would seek to create a self-sustaining fund to contribute towards economic, social and political leadership in Uganda. The foundation will work with well-wishers in the public, philanthropic and business communities to mobilise resources to execute its programmes.
It will also partner with like-minded organisations and individuals including academics, policy-makers and analysts to maximise its contribution to society,†Uthman said. The foundation was established in 2004 by Mayanja’s children.
“We realised that Mzee had come to a stage where he could no longer carry out his work single-handed. We then thought that setting up a foundation would be a good way to continue his work,†says Uthman. Unfortunately, he passed away before the foundation became fully operational.
The foundation will improve access to health, education, safe water and other infrastructure, facilitating community sensitisation programmes on primary health care, safe sanitation, AIDS, nutrition, effective land use, environment protection, gender equity and civic education for rural communities. It will also fund initiatives for research, training, information technology and policy analysis.
The foundation will also equip small scale farmers with improved techniques and facilitate access to market information.
It will equip the youth with basic skills in different areas and also promote cross-cultural dialogue, exchanges and faith-based, inter-religious cooperation.
The foundation will provide legal and policy advocacy assistance to associations of the disabled and women. It will also support Islamic institutions such as schools, health and worship centres, and other social services that cater for the needs of the Muslim Ummah and its leadership.
In 1953, Mayanja was expelled from Makerere University after leading students in a hunger strike over bad food. In 1968, he was detained without trial for writing an article in which he criticised bad constitutional proposals.
He also opposed the death penalty for violent robbery and government’s quest for immunity against actions taken during the emergency period — following the 1966 crisis. His uncompromising stand for truth and justice always made him a target for persecution by the dictatorial regimes of the day.
Even then, he never wavered from the truth. Mayanja spoke for the voiceless, opposed corruption and stood by the demands and aspirations of Buganda, even when it meant losing his means of livelihood.
He played a key role in the set up and administration of various regimes in Buganda and central government in which he served as an MP and Cabinet minister.
Mayanja’s wise council formed the cornerstone upon which many constructive policies were formed. Up until his death, he was a dedicated columnist with The New Vision, where he shared his ideas and knowledge with the country.
If well-managed The Abu Mayanja Foundation may well be the reincarnation of the wealth, knowledge and values that this statesman symbolised.
FACT FILE
1929: Born in Kyaggwe. Taught by his parents how to read and write in Arabic and English
1944: Best performer in Primary Leaving Exams countrywide
1945: Joined Kings College Budo on scholarship. Led protest because the colonial governor’s portrait hang above the Kabaka’s
1949: Emerged the best student in the East Africa Certificate of Examination
1950: Joined Makerere. Elected to the students council and became secretary to the editor of the student magazine
1952: Co-founder and secretary general of Uganda National Congress with Ignatius Musaazi. Led anti-colonial and segregationist economic policies with farmers’ co-operatives
1953: Led hunger strike at Makerere and was expelled. Colonial governor chose him to go to Cambridge
1955: completed his degree in History
1957: Completed his law degree at Cambridge
1959: Completed bar at Lincoln’s Inn
Returned to Uganda immediately turning down offers with leading British companies such as Shell. Returned to active participation in the Uganda National Congress. Arrested for leading demonstration outside Legco (KCC Town Hall). Appointed Minister of Education at Mengo
1964: Resigns at Mengo
1968: Marries first wife, Hadija
Wrote an article in Transition against constitutional proposals. Arrested and detained without trial
1971: Served as Minister of Education in Idi Amin’s regime
1973-1979: Commercial mixed farmer in Mityana
1980: Elected Member of Parliament on Democratic Party ticket for Busujju county
1982: Whisked off to exile by Akena Adoko who was aware of government plans to arrest him
1984-1985:Joined NRM and acted as legal adviser to army during the Nairobi peace talks
Through his connections, NRA obtained munitions support from Pakistan
1986-1994: Cabinet minister in National Resistance Movement government. Overcame political opposition to the establishment of the Islamic University in Uganda. Became its first rector.
1994: Member of Constituent Assembly for the 1995 constitution
Dismissed from cabinet over stance on federalism
Returned to the back bench in parliament and private legal practice
Returned to critiquing government 1996: Lost parliament seat 2004-2005: Columnist for The New Vision
Questioned application of the law. Member of OIC Governing Council And Motamar (Pakistan)
November 4, 2005: died, survived by 28 children
IT is an uphill task to measure up to great persons. People who live a full life and leave great legacies, tend to live as much in life as they do in death.
Abu Mayanja, who passed on two years ago, is one such man. An advocate for civil liberties and the rule of law, Mayanja championed the cause for development, peace and good governance.
He, together with Iganatius Kangave Musaazi, co-founded the Uganda National Congress, the first ever-political party in Uganda.
He contributed to the struggle for Uganda’s independence; he was a pan-Africanist and nationalist who dedicated 50 years of his political career to serving his nation.
Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, the Kabaka of Buganda, described him as an “ingenious, bold, upright, modest and incorruptible person who gave exceptional service to his country and Buganda for 50 years.â€
President Yoweri Museveni called him: “A very hard-working, visionary man of great enterprise, a statesman who served his country in many capacities ... and whose legacy should be perpetuated.â€
At 5:30pm today, Mayanja’s family and friends will seek to perpetuate his legacy at the inaugural Abu Mayanja memorial lecture. The lecture under the theme: “Secular Law and the Islamic Values — Abu Mayanja in Comparative Perspective†will be conducted by renowned scholar Prof Ali Mazrui at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel Rwenzori Ball Room.
The event will also mark the launch of the Abu Mayanja Foundation by the Nabagereka of Buganda, Sylvia Nagginda. The foundation is aimed at supporting socio-economic development.
“We might not be able to fill his shoes, but we hope to continue the legacy of his tremendous work in the political and socio-economic development of Uganda through this foundation,†says Uthman Mayanja, the foundation director and son to the fallen statesman.
He said the foundation would seek to create a self-sustaining fund to contribute towards economic, social and political leadership in Uganda. The foundation will work with well-wishers in the public, philanthropic and business communities to mobilise resources to execute its programmes.
It will also partner with like-minded organisations and individuals including academics, policy-makers and analysts to maximise its contribution to society,†Uthman said. The foundation was established in 2004 by Mayanja’s children.
“We realised that Mzee had come to a stage where he could no longer carry out his work single-handed. We then thought that setting up a foundation would be a good way to continue his work,†says Uthman. Unfortunately, he passed away before the foundation became fully operational.
The foundation will improve access to health, education, safe water and other infrastructure, facilitating community sensitisation programmes on primary health care, safe sanitation, AIDS, nutrition, effective land use, environment protection, gender equity and civic education for rural communities. It will also fund initiatives for research, training, information technology and policy analysis.
The foundation will also equip small scale farmers with improved techniques and facilitate access to market information.
It will equip the youth with basic skills in different areas and also promote cross-cultural dialogue, exchanges and faith-based, inter-religious cooperation.
The foundation will provide legal and policy advocacy assistance to associations of the disabled and women. It will also support Islamic institutions such as schools, health and worship centres, and other social services that cater for the needs of the Muslim Ummah and its leadership.
In 1953, Mayanja was expelled from Makerere University after leading students in a hunger strike over bad food. In 1968, he was detained without trial for writing an article in which he criticised bad constitutional proposals.
He also opposed the death penalty for violent robbery and government’s quest for immunity against actions taken during the emergency period — following the 1966 crisis. His uncompromising stand for truth and justice always made him a target for persecution by the dictatorial regimes of the day.
Even then, he never wavered from the truth. Mayanja spoke for the voiceless, opposed corruption and stood by the demands and aspirations of Buganda, even when it meant losing his means of livelihood.
He played a key role in the set up and administration of various regimes in Buganda and central government in which he served as an MP and Cabinet minister.
Mayanja’s wise council formed the cornerstone upon which many constructive policies were formed. Up until his death, he was a dedicated columnist with The New Vision, where he shared his ideas and knowledge with the country.
If well-managed The Abu Mayanja Foundation may well be the reincarnation of the wealth, knowledge and values that this statesman symbolised.
FACT FILE
1929: Born in Kyaggwe. Taught by his parents how to read and write in Arabic and English
1944: Best performer in Primary Leaving Exams countrywide
1945: Joined Kings College Budo on scholarship. Led protest because the colonial governor’s portrait hang above the Kabaka’s
1949: Emerged the best student in the East Africa Certificate of Examination
1950: Joined Makerere. Elected to the students council and became secretary to the editor of the student magazine
1952: Co-founder and secretary general of Uganda National Congress with Ignatius Musaazi. Led anti-colonial and segregationist economic policies with farmers’ co-operatives
1953: Led hunger strike at Makerere and was expelled. Colonial governor chose him to go to Cambridge
1955: completed his degree in History
1957: Completed his law degree at Cambridge
1959: Completed bar at Lincoln’s Inn
Returned to Uganda immediately turning down offers with leading British companies such as Shell. Returned to active participation in the Uganda National Congress. Arrested for leading demonstration outside Legco (KCC Town Hall). Appointed Minister of Education at Mengo
1964: Resigns at Mengo
1968: Marries first wife, Hadija
Wrote an article in Transition against constitutional proposals. Arrested and detained without trial
1971: Served as Minister of Education in Idi Amin’s regime
1973-1979: Commercial mixed farmer in Mityana
1980: Elected Member of Parliament on Democratic Party ticket for Busujju county
1982: Whisked off to exile by Akena Adoko who was aware of government plans to arrest him
1984-1985:Joined NRM and acted as legal adviser to army during the Nairobi peace talks
Through his connections, NRA obtained munitions support from Pakistan
1986-1994: Cabinet minister in National Resistance Movement government. Overcame political opposition to the establishment of the Islamic University in Uganda. Became its first rector.
1994: Member of Constituent Assembly for the 1995 constitution
Dismissed from cabinet over stance on federalism
Returned to the back bench in parliament and private legal practice
Returned to critiquing government 1996: Lost parliament seat 2004-2005: Columnist for The New Vision
Questioned application of the law. Member of OIC Governing Council And Motamar (Pakistan)
November 4, 2005: died, survived by 28 children