Obituary for Chris Kassami

Mar 11, 2016

Chris Kassami was a mentor; parent, leader and above all a proven professional who was focused; had integrity, wise, calm and collected

It is with great sadness that I have learnt of the death of a Mr. Chris Manyindo Kassami, the former Permanent Secretary and Secretary of Treasury of the Government of Uganda.

On behalf of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; I send our sincere condolences to the Kassami family, the Government and people of Uganda.

While Mr. Chris Kassami had an exemplary over 41 years of dedicated public service before he retired in 2013; his footprint at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development where he spent most of his service years; remains so fresh.

As a young graduate economist, Chris joined the Ministry on 25th April 1972. He soon proved himself and rose through the ranks, gaining promotions and added responsibility over the years to become Chief Economist, Permanent Secretary/ Deputy Secretary to the Treasury (Budget) and finally Permanent Secretary/ Secretary to Treasury by the time he retired in 2013.

To most of us at the Ministry therefore, Chris Kassami, was a mentor; parent, leader and above all a proven professional who was focused; had integrity, wise, calm and collected.  He was a source of inspiration given the advice he willingly gave to those of us under his charge and the so many transformative changes he heralded during his leadership.

Mr Kassami was key among a small group of dedicated economists that deliberately championed the many ground breaking socio-economic and financial changes that functioned as the foundation and corner stone of the current economic stability and growth.
Indeed, his outstanding roles were to evolve and emerge to the fore without hitch when he carried over the mantle as the Permanent Secretary/ Secretary to Treasury in 2001 replacing current Bank of Uganda Governor Prof. Tumusiime Mutebile.

As the technical team at the Ministry, we wish to affirm that we learnt and continue to draw very instructive lesson from the broader spectrum of policies he successfully championed.

These hitherto novel approaches greatly impacted on Uganda's ways of managing its economy and were rapidly adopted by most countries that sought modern solution to a new set of socio-economic challenges the face. It is clear that to-date we remain on the positive trajectory, further growing our economy and improving the livelihood of our people.

Beyond the Ministry of Finance, the late Chris Kassami has been a catalyst to encourage nascent efforts in key departments and agencies. As a Member of the Board of URA, NSSF, UNRA UMI and BOU among others; he rendered oversight and guided the respective managements to successfully strive and chisel their way through often challenging landscapes to the current successful entities we are proud of them to be.  

Uganda, with the demise of Chris Kassami has therefore, lost a very rare but accomplished professional.

As a Ministry, we commit to stand by, support and render possible assistance to the family at this difficult and trying time.  
We pray to the Almighty God to comfort the Kassami family and May God rest His Soul in Eternal Peace.



Keith Muhakanizi
PERMANENT SECRETARY/SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY

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