The permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Keith Muhakanizi died on Thursday evening. The Government spokesperson, Ofwono Opondo confirmed Muhakanizi’s death. Ofwono said Muhakanizi passed away from Milan, an Italian city where he has been receiving treatment for cancer-related complications.
He said Muhakanizi has been in and out of the hospital for over two years from Milan in Italy.
He said: “You remember, even when he was shifted from treasury, he was not in the country, but he was in Milan.”
Muhakanizi was also a long-serving permanent secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Secretary to the Treasury before he was shifted to OPM.
Who is Keith Muhakanizi?
Muhakanizi was involved in the development and execution of economic policies for more than a decade at the Ministry of Finance. He served as a member of the board of the Bank of Uganda and was chairperson of the Economic Policy Research Center at Makerere University.
He has been a Ugandan Economist, very instrumental in Macro-economics policy and planning, financial sector growth and private sector growth in the country and has served in various departments at the Ministry of Finance for years.
Muhakanizi served as a member on Boards of numerous organizations. In addition to being the chairperson of the EPRC Board of Management, he served as the Chairman of East African Development Bank since May 25, 2013.
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Keith Muhakanizi was born in Rukungiri District to the late Rev. Kosia Kajwengye and the late Zeridah Kajwengye. He was born to a family of 7 children, 4 boys and 3 girls.
At the Ministry of Finance, Muhakanizi took over the office from Chris Kassami.
He has been both an ardent Development and Macro- Economist, and a Public Sector Management Specialist with thirty-eight years’ experience in Government.
In the 1990s, he played a central role in the formulation and implementation of economic reforms that restored the macro-economic stability of Uganda’s economy.
Muhakanizi guided both the technical and policy development work in the preparation of successive National Development Plans.
He also served as a board chairperson of National Housing and Construction Company.