On 23rd January 2022, Ugandans woke up to the sudden death of the Governor of Bank of Uganda Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile. The late succumbed to Diabetes and Pressure in Nairobi Hospital- Kenya and is to be laid to rest on Sunday 30th January. Like other deceased politicians and public figures, the opposition political leaders have time and again criticized the circumstances under which Ugandans are forced to seek health services in foreign land instead of Government investing more in health services.
The economist has been praised by several public servants for keeping the economy in check amidst all the economic crisis.
“Mutebile was a great economist, a true nationalist and patriotic Ugandan who dedicated many years of his life to serving the country” quoted PM Robinah Nabanja.
His contribution to the economy was remarkable as he took strategic economic decisions that many were against in the 2020/2021 total lockdown that almost crippled the economy and slowed economic growth.
“It is difficult to predict the extent and severity of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic…Bank of Uganda will provide exceptional liquidity assistance for a period of up to one year for financial institutions supervised by Bank of Uganda that may require it…” the late explained his monetary strategy.
However, opposition political parties (National Unity Platform, Forum for Democratic Change, Uganda Peoples Congress, Democratic Party) blamed him for joining the corrupt regime as he was alleged to have sponsored the NRM elections of 2016 as well as the recent election of 2021 by printing excessive money. “on the extra money printed saga, we ordered 20 pellets if I may to say but what was brought on the chartered cargo plane were 25 pellets, we want to know where the extra 5 pellets came, to whom it is going and for what purposed” the former Governor defended himself in a statement that many Ugandans found not convincing and the manner in which the incident was brushed off is still mysterious.
Despite the critics, Parliament has honored the request by Hon. Nathan Itungo for Government to implement the Tumusiime Mutebile Centre for Excellence for Private Sector Development. However, the request by the deceased’s family for Government to build for them a house in Kampala has caused mix reactions from Parliament and angry citizens.
