Rugunda the peace envoy

To mark 50 years of Uganda’s independence, New Vision will until October 9, 2012 be publishing highlights of events and pro ling personalities that have shaped the history of this country. 

Today, JOEL OGWANG brings you the story of Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, one of the longest serving ministers in the NRM government and was chief negotiator in the botched LRA peace talks.

There are men, and there are extraordinary men. Ruhakana Rugunda fi ts both bills, embodying all virtues of humanity; humility, simplicity, honesty and tranquility. 

Those close to him nick-named him ‘Nduggu’, Swahili for brother. Aggrey Awori, a former cabinet minister and long-time friend, describes Rugunda as a peaceful, forth-right person and a thinker. “He is not up to intrigue and tolerates virtually everybody. Ideologically, I have never differed with Rugunda,” he says. 

“But, when you are off-track, he politely tells you off!” Rugunda has also heeded national calls, variously serving Uganda and Africa as a parent, students’ leader, physician, messenger of peace, minister and Uganda’s envoy to the UN, amongst others. 

“He is sincere, honest and a man devoted to the right cause,” says Sam Njuba, a former cabinet colleague with the opposition Forum for Demoratic Change. Achievements Alongside Francis Omaswa (Professor), Sam Kuteesa and Okello Oculi, among others, Rugunda was signifi cant in the formation of the National Union of Students of Uganda, a politically vibrant youth movement which he also led (1970-71).

Rugunda created a platform where students got closer with the Obote I regime. “Rugunda was one of the young people Obote liked so much and with whom he often discussed national issues. 

I am happy he succeeded me as minister of ICT,” Awori adds. Together with his Makerere University comrades, Omwony Ojwok, Tumusiime Mutebile, Amama Mbabazi and Tim Lwanga, Rugunda also played a key role in the formation of Front for National Salvation (FRONASA), alongside Yoweri Museveni (current president), Nuwe Amanya Mushega and Eriya Kategaya. 

FRONASA, a rebel outfi t, fought alongside Kikosi Maalum and Tanzanian forces to liberate Uganda from the brutal Idi Amin regime, overthrowing it in 1979.

Because of his calm nature he was a natural choice to lead the government delegation to the LRA peace negotiations. While critics say the Kony talks failed others think otherwise. 

“We reached an agreement on all issues, but when time came for Kony to sign the agreement, he chickened out. President Museveni had also travelled to sign it!” Rugunda says.

NEW VISION, Friday, September 7, 2012 39 “The talks didn’t fail totally, because an agreement was reached, although not signed,” says Dr. Aaron Mukwaya, a political scientist and pundit. 

“The issue is both parties didn’t want to reach an agreement of any sort. Both wanted, and still want, to have victory militarily. I doubt there is any enthusiasm to have Kony killed due to weaponry and logistics benefi t by the army,” Mukwaya says.

Rugunda, nevertheless, defends the military offensives, which, he argues, were paramount. “There were some aspects of the peace talks that could be depicted as ‘peace jokes’,” he says. 

“But it was right that we use both military and peaceful means to end the LRA’s banditry and heinous crimes against humanity meted on Ugandans and Sudanese.

LRA wanted to take over power using the most brutal ways but met a resilient UPDF” After the Kony assignment, Rugunda was appointed Uganda’s representative to the UN and a member of the Security Council, charged with overseeing international peace and security in July 2009 and October 2010.

The council has fi ve permanent members of the UN, including Russia, USA, UK, France and China as well as 10 elected members. 

“I was responsible not just for championing Uganda’s cause, but also Africa’s, coordinating with Nigeria and Libya,” says Rugunda. “Since then, Uganda was, is and continues to play a critical role in regional and international security and peace, helping Africa and the world to better understand Sudan, Congo and Somalia problems.” Early life As a young boy, Rugunda would often sit and read newspapers to his father Surumani Rugunda. 

He believes these experiences at a tender age sparked his later interest in politics. “It surprises me he didn’t study economics or political science, but medicine,” says Awori. Political career His political career started in 1968 when, as the Busoga College, Mwiri, Head Prefect, he fi rst interacted with the oratory Obote, himself a former student. 

Soon, he again met Obote as president at a brain-storming ceremony with student leaders at the State Lodge, Entebbe. “I had a discussion with Obote and established relationships,” Rugunda says. “I valued my interactions with Obote, in spite of the fact that we had differences in some issues.

We didn’t think he did enough to fi ght corruption and solve Uganda’s problems. We wanted to see a government moving like ‘fi re’ to address these issues, but this wasn’t the case,” says Rugunda. When Idi Amin overthrew Obote’s government in 1971, Rugunda opposed the new leader. 

“He tried to persuade us to support him, but we remained adamant,” says Rugunda. “Our position remained resolute until Amin and the Military Council banned NUSU.” This forced NUSU leaders into exile with Rugunda escaping to Dar-es-Salaam, but maintaining his association with Obote and other exiles. 

However, on return from exile in 1979, Rugunda and other radical youths left UPC, starting Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) which would later contest the 1980 elections with Museveni as its leader.

“We wanted to start a new force that would not follow religionpolitical lines, as DP and UPC did,” he points out. Obote had identifi ed Rugunda as a vibrant young man primed for future leadership of UPC party and Uganda. 

Work experience A professional physician, Rugunda carries with him a wealth of medical experience spanning 10  years (1975-86) within which he published six papers. He has worked as a medical offi cer in Zambia (1975-76), UN Institute for Namibia, Lusaka, Zambia (1976- 77), resident physician in pediatrics, USA (1978-79), deputy health minister (1979-1980) and Lecturer, Medical Training Centre, Nairobi, Kenya (1981-82). 

Others are; department of paediatrics, Kenyatta National Hospital (1982-84), department of tropical paediatrics university teaching hospital, Sweden (1984-85) and animal industry, game and fi sheries commissioner (1986) Rugunda has also served as President of the African ministerial conference on environment (AMCEN- 2002/3), and president, governing council of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEPI- 2003/4). 

Others are; chairperson, Global ministerial environment forum (2003), security council working group on confl ict prevention and resolution in Africa (2009- to-date) and assembly of promoters for Kabale University (2006-todate) Ministerial appointments Since 1986, he has served as minister of health (1986-88), works, transport and communication (1988-94), foreign affairs (1994-96), information (1996-98), Presidenc (1998-2001), water, lands and environment (2001-3), internal affairs (2003-9) and Information and Communications Technology (2011-to date). 

Education background

Born to Nora and Solomon Rugunda in Bugongi, Kabale in November, 1947

Went to Rwere Primary School, Kigezi High School and Busoga College Mwiri

Makerere University, University of Zambia and the University of California and Berkeley graduating with an masters in public health. Married to Jocelyn, have four boys and three grand children