Muruuli Mukasa: My Time is Up

The Public Service Minister Wilson Muruuli Mukasa is ending his 32-year political career. The Budyebo county Member of Parliament announced on August 4 that he had decided to retire from active politics and will therefore not seek re-election to Parliament.

The 68-year-old minister is now backing Engineer Berunado Ssebugga Kimeze  who was sacked as Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) executive director in August 2014 at the height of a corruption scandal that led to a loss of more than Shs 24 billion in the Mukono – Katosi road construction saga.

Kimeze is competing for the NRM flag in Budyebo constituency with Moses Mwesigye, Peter Ssali and Bernard Ssekyanzi.

The race has also attracted Nathan Musoke and Julius Kalema from the National Unity Platform. 

The Nakasongola district NRM chairperson, Christopher Nkoyoyo, said that contesting in elective politics is a person decision, adding that one is free to retire. 

According to Nkoyoyo, it is good that Muruli is still committed to serving in government in any other position and hasn’t quit NRM. 

Muruli served as the National Resistance Council Member and Constituency Assembly delegate for Nakasongola County before it was split to create Budyebo County in 2011. He also served as Minister for Security between 1996-2003 and 2011-15 as well as Minister for Labour and Social development in 2015-16. Muruli is the third cabinet minister after Sam Kutesa (Foreign Affairs) and Raphael Magyezi (Local Government) to announce his exit from elective politics.