Parliament pays tribute to minister Mutende

By Vision Reporter

Parliament has paid tribute to fallen industry state minister Dr. James Mutende.

Speaker, Rececca Kadaga, said Mutende will be remembered for being diligent in both the plenary and committees.

The motion to pay tribute to Mutende was moved by the Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda. He presented the findings of the post-mortem which showed that his lungs and liver had problems.

The motion was seconded by the Leader of the Opposition in Parlaiment Wafula Oguttu who described that late “as the most educated minister in this Parliament.” He hailed Mutende for a role he played in the revival of the Bugisu Cooperative Union.

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga consoles the widow Lydia Wanyoto Mutende at Parliament. Photo/Maria Wamala




Mbale Municipality MP Jack Wamanga-Wamai and lands minister Daudi Migereko said the Mutende was so passionate about the development of industrial parks.

A renowned a Ugandan veterinarian, economist, academic and politician, the late Dr. Mutende was appointed state minister for industry on May 27, 2011 replacing Father Simon Lokodo, who was appointed state minister for Ethics & Integrity in the Office of the President.

Mutende obtained a PhD in economics from New School University in New York City in 2005, making him one of the most highly educated ministers in Cabinet.

Mutende was an ex officio Member of Parliament given that he was appointed to cabinet without going through elections. Before his death, he had been nominated as NRM flag bearer for Mbale Municipality.
He will be laid to rest on Saturday at his ancestral home in Mafudu.

 Mutende was born in Mbale, on February 26 1962. After primary education in his home town, he joined Busoga College Mwiri, for his O’ and ‘A’Level before joining Makerere University to study veterinary medicine.

He graduated in 1988 with the degree of Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine. In 1999, he was awarded the degree of Master of Business Administration, also by Makerere University.