The Governor of the Bank of Uganda Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile is dead. Mutebile died this morning at Nairobi Hospital, according to an announcement by Deputy Governor Micheal Atingi-Ego. He was 72.
Mutebile was admitted to Nairobi Hospital on Sunday, December 31, 2021, after he collapsed due to complications related to diabetes. He had been in and out of hospital in recent years for the same complications.
Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, a seasoned professional economist has served as Governor and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Uganda since 2001, and had just started a new term of office for which he was reappointed by 2021. He served as secretary to the treasury from 1992 to 2001 when he was appointed governor.
He is remembered for spearheading the design and implementation of the Economic Reform Program that restored Uganda from the economic crises of the 1970s and 1980s to sound economic performance during his service as the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury in the ministry of finance, planning, and economic development.
He also worked as a consultant for multilateral and regional organizations including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Macroeconomic and Financial Management Institute of East and Central Africa, UK Department for International Development, the North-South Institute in Canada, and for the governments of Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Eritrea, and Nepal.
EULOGIES
Politicians from across the political divide have taken to social media to mourn the passing of Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, the longest-serving Governor of the Bank of Uganda.
Minutes after the news broke, Ugandans from all walks of life including politicians expressed their shock at the news describing Mutebile as one of a small group of Ugandans who will have a lasting legacy on the country’s economic sector. Thomas Tayebwa, the government chief whip, in a Tweet, described Mutebile as an economic giant.
“You gave your all to your country and you were the bedrock of monetary policy. You have fought a good fight, you have finished the race but above all, you kept the faith in your God and your country,” Tayebwa’s stated.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Annet Anita Among also described Mutebile as an economic icon. “The great icon of our economic journey as a country, a banking genius and a patriot has rested. We shall hold on to his legacy of dedication to the service of his country,” Among’s message reads in part.
Norbert Mao, the President General of the Democratic Party said Mutebile was a dedicated civil servant who cared deeply about the economy of Uganda. “… I pay tribute to him for his laser-sharp focus on growth, low inflation and stability. Amidst storms, like Christopher Columbus, he had only one command: SAIL ON,” Mao said.
Veteran journalist Charles Onyango Obbo said Mutebile, disliked by those who were for a parasitic command economy, believed that in a free market, they could engineer a dramatic economic recovery.
The minister of health Dr Ruth Aceng eulogized Mutebile saying his works and wisdom will never be forgotten. “It will live on for decades to come. May God comfort your family in this trying time,” Aceng wrote on her Twitter handle.
The opposition Forum for Democratic Change political party using its official Twitter handles also described Mutebile as a great son of Uganda. “We have learnt of the death of the Governor Bank of Uganda Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile. We convey our condolences to the family, friends, staff of the bank and the country at large for the loss of the great son of Uganda. May his soul rest in peace,” FDC’s message reads.
Mutebile 73, had a love-hate relationship with politicians not only in the opposition but also in government. On various occasions, he rubbed the politicians in parliament the wrong way by reminding them that they had no power to sack him. In fact, one day he described it as rumblings in parliament that would pass when MPs bade for his blood over the decision to compensate businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba with 146 billion Shillings over the loss of tenders in Kampala markets.
In the end, it turned out that indeed the MPs resolutions were rumblings as he has been one of the very few people who have had President Museveni’s ear for a long time.
