The recent dismissal of the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) board has stirred up speculation, with sources linking it to a prolonged conflict between Director General Robert Mukiza and Investment Minister Evelyne Anite.
The board members who were shown the door include Chairperson Morrison Rwakakamba, Dr. Joshua Mutambi, Beatrice Mpairwe, Neima Ombambosa, Izama Angelo Opi-Aiya, Gertrude Kateesa Lutaaya, and Godfrey Byamukama Kereere. While some of their contracts had just been renewed, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija opted to sack them all—a decision believed to have been influenced by Anite.
At the heart of the matter lies a personal vendetta, with Anite allegedly maneuvering to oust Mukiza. Earlier this year, the two had a face-off before President Yoweri Museveni, where Anite was said to have been outmatched in the confrontation. In retaliation, she is suspected of recruiting the board to initiate Mukiza’s removal.
According to insiders, Anite’s plan involved persuading the board to open investigations into Mukiza, accusing him of corruption, tribalism, and mismanagement. Her condition for renewing their contracts was simple: help her force Mukiza out of office. But when the board members’ contracts were extended, they refused to pass a vote of no confidence against Mukiza, derailing her scheme.
In response, Anite reportedly sought the help of Kasaija, who has the authority to dissolve the UIA board. With the board now out of the way, recruitment for a new one is underway, and sources suggest Anite aims to ensure the incoming members align with her mission to remove Mukiza.
A source within the Ministry of Finance commented, “Anite wants a board she can control. When the previous members refused to play along, she had them dismissed. The new board will likely push to get Mukiza out, following the same playbook used against his predecessor.”
History Repeats Itself: The Fall of Jolly Kaguhangire
This latest turmoil within the UIA mirrors the downfall of Mukiza’s predecessor, Jolly Kaguhangire, who was forced out in 2018 under similar circumstances. Kaguhangire faced accusations of incompetence, insubordination, and misuse of office, leading to a suspension and an IGG investigation.
Although the IGG later cleared her of any wrongdoing, her return to UIA was blocked by opposition from senior staff and board members, who accused her of exposing their corruption.
In an attempt to clear her name, Kaguhangire appealed directly to President Museveni. Despite support from her religious community and the President’s intervention, she eventually resigned, her position irreversibly damaged by the internal strife at UIA. Her exit, much like Mukiza’s current predicament, was orchestrated by individuals within the organization who saw her as a threat to their interests.
With history seemingly repeating itself, the fate of Mukiza now hangs in the balance as the new board members are expected to be more sympathetic to Anite’s agenda.
Whether Mukiza can survive this storm remains to be seen, but for now, the stage is set for another high-stakes battle at UIA.
