Office of the Prime Minister needs to be restructured, says public service boss

Nakyobe who made the remarks during the funeral service of the former permanent secretary Office of the Prime Minister, Keith Muhakanizi, on Saturday, 22 April 2023 said a courageous permanent secretary who can restructure the office will needs appointed.

The public service head who also doubles as the secretary to the cabinet revealed that Muhakanizi had anticipated a scandal over the Karamoja iron sheets, and had warned the ministers saying taking them would cause them problems.

“How did the iron sheets saga come out when he was the permanent secretary? He had seen the circus coming. He had been to my office a few months before it happened. One afternoon he had a top management meeting in his office and he came accusing me of not inducting ministers,” Nakyobe said.

Muhakanizi who also served the permanent secretary for Ministry of Finance until he was transferred to the Office of Prime Minister was confirmed dead on Thursday, 13 April at around 09:50pm.

According to reports, he had battled cancer for some time, and had gone to Italy, Milan for treatment. 

Different people have come out to pay tribute to the fallen public servant.

Here are some of the people who paid tribute to him;

Andrew Mwenda: “Tragedies tend to come in a flood. And, so, it has been that yesterday I lost yet another friend, Keith Muhakanizi. Keith was an icon. One of the architects of Uganda’s liberal economic reforms, a technocrat of incredible political skill, and a vigorous intellectual, now gone!”

Ofwono Opondo: “SAD! A friend to many. Keith Muhakanizi, Permanent Secretary Prime Minister's Office, and former long-serving PS Ministry of Finance & Secretary to the Treasury has died from a Milan, Italy hospital where he has receiving treatment. May he Rest in Peace.”

Ramathan Ggoobi: “I have just learnt about the passing of my predecessor, my senior, Mr. Keith Muhakanizi. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and close friends. The Ministry shall issue an official communication in the due course. May the soul of Mr Muhakanizi rest in eternal peace.”