Parliament today convened a special sitting and paid tribute to the late Keith Muhakanizi, the former permanent secretary Office of the Prime Minister. The leader of the opposition Mathias Mpuuga slammed ministers implicated in the iron sheet scam that they took advantage of Muhakanizi’s sickness to divert iron sheets that were meant for Karamoja.
The special sitting started at 10:00 am attended by the family and friends of the fallen Pius Muhakanizi who followed the sitting in the strangers’ gallery.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja moved the motion for a resolution of parliament to pay tribute to the late Keith Muhakanizi, former permanent secretary, office of the Prime minister, and former permanent secretary/secretary to the treasury.
Nabbanja highlighted major economic reforms that Muhakanizi championed to cultivate economic recovery for Uganda including the IFMS, treasury single account, and budget monitoring tools among others.
The motion was officially seconded by the leader of the opposition Mathias Mpuuga who hailed the Muhakanizi as a strong pillar in the economy who propagated budget discipline.
Mpuuga did not spare ministers implicated in the Iron Sheet Scandal, saying they took advantage of Muhakanizi’s illness to flout guidelines and distribute among themselves iron sheets meant for Karamoja which have turned to haunt them. Mpuuga wondered why technocrats in the OPM are yet to be arrested and charged for abuse of office in reaction to the scam.
Matia Kasaija Kasaija the minister of finance and Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi also spoke out on Muhakanizi’s legacy and praised him as a very frank man who was not afraid of advising his supervisors even when his advice was unpopular to the recipient.
Muhakanizi succumbed to multi-organ failure on April 13th in Milan Italy and was laid to rest in Kabula, Lyantonde District on 23rd April
