Edward Rugumayo

Edward Rugumayo
Edward Rugumayo
Born	18 December 1934 (age 89); Kyenjojo District, Uganda
Nationality	Ugandan
Citizenship	Uganda
Alma mater	University of London ; (Bachelor of Science); University of Liverpool ; (Diploma in Education); Church of England ; (Certificate in Religious Studies)
Occupation(s)	Environmentalist, politician & academic
Years active	1966 – present
Known for	Politics, Academics
Title	University Chancellor ; Kampala University and Mountains of the Moon University

Last updated October 24, 2024

Edward Bitanywaine Rugumayo (born 18 December 1934) is a Ugandan politician, diplomat, author, academic and environmentalist. He has previously served as cabinet minister in three Ugandan administrations. From 1979 until 1980, Rugumayo served as the Chairman of the Uganda Consultative Council. He currently serves as the chancellor of two Ugandan universities. He is a botanist and a community leader.^[1]

History

Rugumayo was born in Kyenjojo District, then known as Mwenge County, on 18 December 1934.

Education

He attended Mukole Primary School in Kyenjojo District from P1 to P4. He then attended Galihuma Primary School from P5 to P6. For S1 to S3, he attended Kabarole Junior Secondary School, and for S4 to S6, he attended Nyakasura School, in Fort Portal. He was admitted to Makerere University in the mid 1950s, but he quit when the university did not offer him the course he wanted; he was offered Agriculture, but he wanted Medicine. He was offered a scholarship to go and study in the United States of America, but was denied a passport by the British Colonial Administration. Instead, in 1958, they gave him a scholarship to study in the United Kingdom. He studied for the Diploma in Education at Chester College, then a constituent college of the University of Liverpool. He then studied at the University of London, where he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Botany and Ecology.^[2]

Political career

When Rugumayo returned to Uganda in 1966, he taught briefly at Kyambogo before joining Makerere University, as the warden of Mitchell Hall, one of the halls of residence. In 1971, Idi Amin successfully led a coup d'état against the Obote I administration. Rugumayo was appointed Minister of Education, through connections with his friend Wanume Kibedi, a lawyer, with whom they had studied in London and who was an in-law to Idi Amin. Kibedi was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. In February 1973, one year and eight months on the job, Rugumayo resigned from Amin's cabinet; the first member of the cabinet to resign. He went into exile in Nairobi, Kenya and Lusaka, Zambia, staying there until 1979, when Amin's regime was toppled.

After the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) and the Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) captured power in Kampala, with the assistance of the Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF), Rugumayo was appointed chairman of the National Consultative Council (NCC), the parliament of the time. Rugumayo was instrumental in removing Yusuf Lule from power, when Lule disagreed with the NCC on procedural protocol when making cabinet appointments. Lule was replaced by Godfrey Binaisa. In May 1980, while Rugumayo was in Arusha, Tanzania, the Binaisa administration was also deposed in another coup d'état. This time Rugumayo stayed in exile until 1992. That year, he returned to Uganda and joined the National Resistance Movement administration of Yoweri Museveni.^[3]

Academic and political appointments

He has formerly held the following positions in the Ugandan Government, International Organizations and Universities:^[4]

As Senior Science Inspector of Schools, while teaching at the Institute of Teacher Education, Kyambogo; now part of Kyambogo University, from 1968 until 11969.
As Warden of Mitchell Hall, and lecturer, Department of Education, Makerere University, from 1970 until 1971.
As Minister of Education from June 1971 until February 1973 under Idi Amin
As Senior Lecturer, then Associate Professor and then Dean, School of Education at the University of Zambia, between 1973 and 1979
As Chairman of the National Consultative Council from April 1979 until May 1980
As Senior Consultant on Environmental Education; Training and Project Design for UNEP, UNDP, UNESCO, World Bank and other NGOs based in Nairobi.
As Visiting Professor of Environment at Oklahoma State University and Moscow State University
As Chairperson of a 12-person team of consultants hired to establish the School of Environmental Studies at Moi University in Kenya, in 1989.
As Visiting UNDP/UNEP Professor of Environment at Moi University.
As Senior Programme Coordinator of Environment Liaison Centre International, a global coalition of environment NGOs based in Nairobi, from June 1992 until May 1995.
As Chief Technical Advisor on Environment to with the Government of Lesotho, from July 1995 to July 1996, assigned by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
As Uganda's first Ambassador to South Africa from 1996 until 1999
As Minister of Internal Affairs from 199 until 2000
As Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry, from 2000 until 2005.

In 2005, during a cabinet reshuffle, Rugumayo was appointed Uganda's ambassador to France, a position which he turned down.^[5]

Other considerations

Rugumayo started Tooro Botanical Gardens, a 40 hectares (99 acres), natural tropical forest with rare native flora, with medicinal, dye-producing and perfumed plant species. It is the only other botanical gardens in Uganda, other than the government-owned Entebbe Botanical Gardens in Entebbe, on the shores of Lake Victoria. He also owns a mixed diary and crop farm measuring 20 hectares (49 acres), where he also maintains an apiary.

In 2004, Edward Rugumayo, then Uganda’s Minister of Trade, Tourism, and Industry, made a significant decision to ban the importation and sale of Tiger Head dry cells. This move was driven by concerns over the quality and safety of these batteries, which were widely used but deemed substandard. The ban was seen as a long-overdue measure to protect consumers from potentially hazardous products. Rugumayo’s decision was part of broader efforts to regulate and improve the quality of goods in the Ugandan market, reflecting his commitment to consumer protection and public safety. ^[6]

Related Research Articles

The Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) was a political group formed by exiled Ugandans opposed to the rule of military dictator Idi Amin. The UNLF had an accompanying military wing, the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA). UNLA fought alongside Tanzanian forces in the Uganda–Tanzania War that led to the overthrow of Amin's regime. The group ruled Uganda from the overthrow of Amin in April 1979 until the disputed national elections in December 1980.

Yusuf Kironde Lule was a Ugandan professor and politician who served as the fourth president of Uganda between 13 April and 20 June 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Godfrey Binaisa</span> Ugandan President from 1979 to 1980

Godfrey Lukongwa Binaisa QC was a Ugandan lawyer and politician who served as the fifth president of Uganda from June 1979 to May 1980. Earlier, he was Attorney General of Uganda from 1962 to 1968. At the time of his death in 2010, he was Uganda's only surviving former president.

Makerere University is Uganda's largest and oldest institution of higher learning, first established as a technical school in 1922, and the oldest currently active university in East Africa. It became an independent national university in 1970. Today, Makerere University is composed of nine colleges and one school, offering programmes for about 36,000 undergraduates and 4,000 postgraduates. These colleges include College of Natural Sciences (CONAS), College of Health Sciences (CHS), College of Engineering Art & Design (CEDAT), College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies (CAES), College Of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), College of Humanities & Social Sciences (CHUSS), College of Computing and Information Sciences (COCIS), College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources & Bio-security (COVAB), College of Education and External Studies (CEES) and Makerere University Business School (MUBS). In addition, Makerere has onother campus in Eastern Uganda Jinja City.

Akena p'Ojok is a former influential Ugandan politician who held various government positions in the 1980s, including Minister of Power, Posts and Telecommunications. He was a prominent figure of Uganda National Liberation Front/Army that helped remove Idi Amin and was involved in the power struggles that followed.

Busoga College Mwiri, commonly known as Busoga College, is a boarding secondary school located in the eastern region of Uganda, specifically Jinja.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyambogo University</span> Public university in Uganda

Kyambogo University (KYU) is a public university in Uganda. It is one of the eight public universities and degree-awarding institutions in the country with the motto, "Knowledge and Skills for Service."

King’s College Budo is a mixed, residential, secondary school in Central Uganda (Buganda).

Ephraim Kamuntu is a Ugandan management scientist and politician. He has been the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs in the Cabinet of Uganda since 14 December 2019. Previously, he served as Minister of Water and Environment from August 2012 to June 2016. He is also an ex-officio Member of the Parliament of Uganda because of his Cabinet position.

Dani Wadada Nabudere was a Ugandan academic, Pan-Africanist, lawyer, politician, author, political scientist, and development specialist. At the time of his passing, he was a professor at the Islamic University and executive director of the Marcus Garvey Pan-Afrikan Institute, Mbale, Uganda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abu Mayanja</span> Ugandan politician

Abubaker Kakyama Mayanja was the first Secretary General of the Uganda National Congress party, the first political party in Uganda set up on 6 March 1952 by Ignatius K. Musaazi. He became the Secretary General of the UNC in his youth when he was still an undergraduate student at Makerere University College, which later became Makerere University. Abu Mayanja helped Musaazi draft the Constitution of the Uganda National Congress party. Abu was a fighter for independence in Uganda and Africa, a strong parliamentarian and one who disliked injustice. He contributed greatly to the political life of Uganda as a constitutional expert, formidable parliamentarian, government minister at various times, and as an excellent Barrister in private practice. His written contributions in the Tribune magazine, Transition, Uganda Argus and New Vision newspapers were well received and much respected.

Robert Bellarmino Serumaga was a Ugandan playwright. He was also an important political figure in Uganda during the late 1970s, being the leader and co-founder of the Uganda Nationalist Organization militant group and Minister of Commerce in the government of President Yusuf Lule.

John Pancras Mukasa Lubowa Ssebuwufu, commonly known as John Ssebuwufu is a Ugandan chemist, academic and administrator. He is a former chancellor of Kyambogo University, Uganda's second-largest public university serving between 2014-2022 having served for 2 terms. He was installed as chancellor on 19 February 2014, replacing Eric Tiyo Adriko, who had completed his two term tenure. The correct spelling of his last name is Ssebuwufu. However the literature contains many instances where the name is spelled with a single "s".

Joshua Wanume Kibedi was an Ugandan lawyer, politician and diplomat, who served as the Foreign Minister between January 1971 and January 1973 during the early years of the regime of Idi Amin. However, Kibedi resigned as Foreign Minister in 1973 after the murder of his uncle, Shaban Nkutu, by Amin. Kibedi went into exile and became a leading critic of Idi Amin's dictatorship. He would later serve as Uganda's Ambassador to the United Nations from 1986 to 1988.

Jehoash Ssibakyalyawo Mayanja Nkangi or Joash Mayanja Nkangi was a Ugandan lawyer, civil servant and politician. At the time of his death, he was the immediate past chairman of the Uganda Land Commission. He previously served as a cabinet minister in several ministries in the Cabinet of Uganda.

Rhoda Nakibuuka Nsibirwa Kalema is a retired Ugandan female politician known as the country's "Mother of Parliament".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grace Ibingira</span> Ugandan lawyer and politician

Grace Stuart Katebariirwe Ibingira was a Ugandan lawyer and politician.

Godfrey Serunkuma Lule is a Ugandan lawyer. He was Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of Uganda for Idi Amin and defected, becoming a prominent international critic of Amin. He went on to found the prominent Ugandan Law and Consulting firm Sebalu & Lule Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Gedion B. Nkojo Atwoki, commonly known as Gedion Nkojo, was a Ugandan economist, who served as the governor of the Bank of Uganda, the national central bank and banking regulator, from May 1979 until his resignation in September 1980.

Herbert Kanabi Nsubuga was a Ugandan, academic, legislator, and veterinary doctor. He was a Professor in veterinary medicine. He was the first veterinary graduate from Makerere University, and the first veterinary medicine graduate in East Africa. He served as a minister of Animal Resources in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Industry during Idi Amin regime. He was the first Ugandan to become part of Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons - London as a member.

References

↑ "Professor Edward Rugumayo: Member, Board of Directors". OutreachToAfrica.org. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
↑ Ssemujju, Ibrahim Nganda (30 March 2009). "Museveni Has No Respect – Rugumayo". The Observer. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
↑ Ssemujju, Ibrahim Nganda (30 March 2009). "Interview With Professor Edward Rugumayo in 2009". The Observer. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
↑ Ssemutooke, Joseph (15 May 2012). "Golden Jubilee Uganda: Rugumayo Planting A Tree During Hima Open Day Celebrations In Kasese In 2004". New Vision. Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
↑ "Rugumayo made right decision". New Vision. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
↑ "Tiger Head Ban". New Vision. Retrieved 22 August 2024.

External links

Leadership Profile: Uganda Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry: Honorable Edward Bitanywaine Rugumayo, Professor

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] "Professor Edward Rugumayo: Member, Board of Directors". OutreachToAfrica.org. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.

[2] Ssemujju, Ibrahim Nganda (30 March 2009). "Museveni Has No Respect – Rugumayo". The Observer. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2014.

[3] Ssemujju, Ibrahim Nganda (30 March 2009). "Interview With Professor Edward Rugumayo in 2009". The Observer. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2014.

[4] Ssemutooke, Joseph (15 May 2012). "Golden Jubilee Uganda: Rugumayo Planting A Tree During Hima Open Day Celebrations In Kasese In 2004". New Vision. Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2014.

[5] "Rugumayo made right decision". New Vision. Retrieved 22 August 2024.

[6] "Tiger Head Ban". New Vision. Retrieved 22 August 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]