Meet the most and least educated cabinet ministers

By Carol Natukunda

Love or hate him, Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere is by far the most highly educated among the senior cabinet ministers.

 Kabwegyere, who bounced back in the latest cabinet reshuffle, as minister for gender, labour and social affairs, is the only one with a PhD of the 30 full-time ministers. The outspoken minister holds the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, a master’s degree in political sociology and a PhD in the same field.

Among the ministers of state, there are four PhDs. Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo, state minister for higher education and Prof. Zerubabel Nyiira, agriculture state minister both have a PhD in philosophy. Investment minister Dr. Ajedra Gabriel has a PhD in civil engineering while industries’ minister Dr. James Mutende boasts of a PhD in economics.

The state minister for housing, Sam Engola, with two diplomas, is the least educated among the ministers. His education, however, is well above the minimum requirement of S6. He has a diploma in modern management and administration and another in clearing and forwarding plus a certificate in leadership and public speaking. All other ministers have at least a bachelor’s degree.

MASTERS HOLDERS
In total, 42, of the 84 ministerial positions are occupied by people with at least a master’s degree.

Several of them have more than one master’s, most notable Dr. Stephen Chebrot, state minister for transport. The medical doctor, who comes from Stephen Kiprotich’s district, has four masters’ degrees, in obstetrics and gynaecology, public health, biostatistics and epidemiology, as well as leadership and management.

Water and environment minister Ephraim Kamuntu has master’s degrees in management science, business administration and systems analysis.

Education minister Jessica Alupo holds two master’s degrees in management studies and international relations. Jeje Odongo, the state minister for defence, has master’s degrees in international relations and diplomatic studies as well as international studies and conflict resolution.

THE LAWYERS
The most represented profession on the cabinet list is law, with vice-president Edward Ssekandi, Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, as well as deputy prime ministers Eriya Kategaya and Moses Ali. Other qualified lawyers include foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa, Attorney General Peter Nyombi, deputy Attorney General Fred Ruhindi, labour state minister Mwesigwa Rukutana, privatisation state minister Aston Kajara, Luweero triangle state minister, Rose Namayanja and local government minister Adolf Mwesige.

THE TEACHERS
The teaching profession is also well represented with government chief whip Justine Kasule Lumumba, security minister Mukasa Muruuli, Karamoja Minister Janet Museveni and information ministers Mary Karooro.

THE DOCTORS
There are also a number of doctors, namely health minister Christine Ondoa, disaster preparedness minister Stephen Mallinga, defence minister Crispus Kiyonga, ICT minister Ruhakana Rugunda, primary education state minister Kamanda Bataringaya and transport state minister Stephen Chebrot. Dr. Richard Nduhuura who has been appointed the UN ambassador to Uganda, is a veterinary doctor.

DOES EDUCATION MATTER?
For one to be appointed an MP and consequently a minister, the minimum qualification is a certificate of the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education or its equivalent. Thus, on average, our ministers are far above the minimum requirement.

But Prof. Aaron Mukwaya, a senior lecturer of political science at Makerere University, says the requirement provided by the law is too low.

“If it was 1962, that requirement would be okay and understandable. But 50 years later? Cabinet needs people who can analyse issues and an S6 leaver cannot,” argues Mukwaya.

He stresses that with everyone accessing education, the cabinet members would be a laughing stock if they were less educated.

“It (the S6 qualification) dilutes the legislature, because once you are an MP, it means you can be a president with an S.6 certificate. Even at the constituency level, people would not accord you respect because people are better qualified today,” he says.

Prof. Fredrick Juuko, a senior lecturer of law at Makerere University, however, observes that it is necessary to set a minimum level of education, but he adds that those with an S6 certificate should not be underestimated.

“It isn’t that one cannot reason. I believe there is sufficient educational preparation by that level. Through informal education, one is also aware of a number of things in society,” Juuko argues.

On the thirst for a master’s degree, Juuko notes that it depends on the motive. “There are people who go for their masters when they are vying for knowledge and skills. There are those who go for it because they are after papers.”

Commenting on the ministers with a law degree, he adds: “Perhaps they feel that because Parliament involves legislation, they need to know a lot of law, but this might not be the case.”

WAY FORWARD
According to Mukwaya, however, there is need to look at the ability of ministers in terms of their work output, rather than academic standards.

“You can have all the books in this world but on the ground, you fail to perform,” he says.

Mukwaya adds: “Sometimes when you have these qualification-minded people, they think it is a privilege and I am sure the whole of this week, they will be celebrating. But it is about performance.”

Yeko Acato, the assistant director at the National Council for Higher Education, is confident that based on the secondary school curriculum, an S6 leaver can perform and reason when given chance.

In Kenya, there is a contentious debate on whether a Bachelor’s degree should be mandatory for one to stand as MP or minister. The newly adopted Election Act also bars candidates without a post-high school diploma or degree from running for electoral positions. Cabinet ministers are required to have a master’s degree. And half of the ministers can be appointed from non-MPs who meet the standards.