Kampala, (UG):– Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe Saturday confirmed the appointment of former minister Dr Crispus Kiyonga as the new Chancellor of Makerere University.
“His Excellency the President of Uganda has appointed Dr Crispus Kiyonga as the new Chancellor of Makerere University,” Prof Nawangwe wrote on his official X account, adding; “On behalf of Makerere University Council, I extend our warm congratulations to Dr Kiyonga on this prestigious appointment and warmly welcome him to the service of Makerere University.”
Dr Kiyonga, 72, takes over as titular head of Uganda’s oldest university, succeeding Prof Ezra Suruma, who assumed chancellorship in January 2016 after being appointed by Museveni on December 2, 2015.
But Who is Crispus Kiyonga?
Born on 1st January 1952, Dr Crispus Walter Kiyonga is a Ugandan physician, politician and career diplomat who previously served as Uganda’s Ambassador to China and as Minister of Defence in the Cabinet of Uganda from 2006 to 2016.
Prior to that, he was Minister Without Portfolio in the Office of the President from 2005 to 2006. During the cabinet reshuffles of February 2009, May 2011, and March 2015, Kiyonga retained his cabinet post but in 2016, he lost the Member of Parliament (MP) seat for Bukonjo County West to Robert Katusabe and never returned to cabinet since then.
Early life & Education
Kiyonga attended Bwera Primary School and later Nyakasura School for O’Level. He studied for his S5 and S6 at Kings College Budo from 1971 to 1972.
From 1973 to 1978, Kiyonga attended Makerere University School of Medicine where he obtained his first medical degree, the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) in 1978.
Later, in 2004, he obtained a Master of Health Science (MHS) with specialisation in Population Dynamics from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. His studies at Johns Hopkins were funded through a Fogarty International Center Scholarship Archived 2007-09-12 at the Wayback Machine.
Kiyonga’s Career in Politics
During the first post-Idi Amin national elections in Uganda in 1980, Kiyonga participated as a candidate on the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) platform. He won in his constituency, making him the only UPM candidate who won during those elections.
He joined the National Resistance Movement (NRM) during its struggle against the second Milton Obote regime from 1981 until 1986.
From 1986, when the NRM assumed power in Uganda, until 2006 when he was appointed as Minister of Defense, Dr Crispus Kiyonga held several cabinet and non-cabinet posts in the Ugandan Government such as;
- 1986 – 1986: Minister for Cooperatives & Marketing
- 1986 – 1992: Minister of Finance – Credited with the establishment of Uganda Revenue Authority.[11]
- 1994 – 1996: Minister of Internal Affairs
- 1996 – 2001: Minister of Health – Credited with efficient handling of Ebola outbreak in Gulu in 2000. Chairman Global Fund.
- 2001 – 2006: Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the President and National Political Commissar.
- 2006 – 2016: Minister of Defense
Between 1992 and 1994, Kiyonga left the government temporarily to serve as a consultant with the World Bank and the African Development Bank.
Kiyonga returned to active politics in 1994 when he was elected to the Constituent Assembly that drew up the 1995 Uganda Constitution.
He continuously represented Bukonjo County West, in the Ugandan Parliament, from 1980 until 2016.
In 2016, he was appointed Uganda’s Ambassador to China.
