Muntu for Uganda

er of Education in the Ankole kingdom government. Gen Mugisha Muntu started school at Mbarara junior school, about 3 km from their family home at Kamukuzi, where the family had settled after the appointment of the father to the Ministerial Position of Education in Ankole kingdom government, a position he served in until 1966 when a crisis broke out in the Ankole kingdom government as a result of disagreements between the Prime Minister James Kahigiriza and Mr Nekemia Bananuka who served as a minister. This crisis that resulted into Bananuka's subsequent sacking and Consequently, Enoch Muntuyera, Major Gen Mugisha Muntu's father, being a firm believer in principles of justice, resigned his ministerial position in protest of the manner in which Bananuka had been thrown out citing unfairness and injustice in the manner in which his fellow minister had been handle. He returned to Kajara with his family where Mugisha Muntu continued with school at Kitunga High School. In 1967, Dr Obote, abolished kingdoms and federalism and ushered in a republican system of governance where Enoch Muntuyera, Major General Muntu 's father was appointed chairman of the Great Ankole's districts council until 1971 when Amin took over in a coup de-eta. Amin's take over ushered in a reign of terror in which several politicians including strong UPC supporters and Leaders in Ankole were murdered. Enoch Muntuyera upon being tipped off of his impending arrest and possible murder fled to exile in the early 1971 and stayed with Dr Obote in Tanzania leaving behind his family including the young Mugisha Muntu in Uganda. Mugisha Muntu grew up with his mother and siblings in an environment of fear caused as a result of the terror which targeted mainly UPC members and leaders like Mr. Bananuka, formerly a minister in Ankole government, a staunch UPC supporter and secretary General to Uganda People’s congress who was killed with this three sons, and it is this kind of fear of being arrested or even killed because of his father's position and support for the UPC government that defined life for the young Muntu and his family. It was these circumstances and experience that nurtured values of justice, equality, fairness into Mugisha Muntu's life eventually influencing his decisions and pursuits to bring justice and fairness to this country. Gen Mugisha Muntu, joined Kitunga High school for his O' Level in 1972, Makerere college school for his A ‘level which he completed in 1978 before joining Makerere University, where he served in various capacities eventually being elected the vice Guild president of the Makerere University guild in 1979, a position he served in diligently and excellently. At the height of the struggle to overthrow Idi Amin, with lots of patriotism, Major Gen Muntu, together with colleagues like Major Gen Jim Muhwezi, Brig. Dr. Besigye, formed a group named 'Stop looting' with many other comrades to prevent the subsequent looting that was taking place. This mission they accomplished with success and lots of property mainly government property was recovered and kept in the university hall until owners were identified and picked it. Subsequently, Amin was overthrown and elections were organized, won controversially by UPC marking the return of Dr Obote to power. Given his Late father's connections and strong ties with Dr. Obote, one would have thought joining UPC and working for it would have been a more lucrative opportunity for the Young Muntu, given the favour and good will his Family enjoyed with Dr Obote and the entire UPC government. However, with such undeterred determination for justice, freedom and equality, the young Muntuyera, upon finishing his last exam for his degree in Makerere, evaded arrest, jumped through the university hall window at Makerere and joined the liberation war with NRA, without giving prior notice to his own family who had made arrangements and plans for him to travel abroad for further education. During the liberation, Mugisha Muntu was shot in the chest, an incident that almost took his life, however, as fate had it, a colleague by the nick names of “ Seventy Nine 79” who had been given instructions, by the commander of the operations, who believed Major Gen Muntu would not survive, to finish him Off in form of Mercy killing to prevent him from the pain he was going through and possible arrest and torture by the enemy, rather decided to carry him from the scene of ambush from where he was brought for treatment in Kampala, treated and healed. After the operations that summoned a lodged bullet in the chest and some period to recuperate, he went back to the bush until 1986 when the NRA won and took over power. He served as Director for Military intelligence in 1987, went for a military course in Russia, upon which on his return, served briefly as chief political commissar and later on as 5th division commander based in lira from where he was appointed Army commander at the age of 31 years in 1989, a position he remained in until 1998 making him one of the longest serving army commander. Upon being relinquished his position of Army Commander, Major Gen Muntu represented the army in the parliament as an army representative until he joined the opposition. Major Gen Muntu was one of the founders of the PAFO, a pressure group of parliamentarians to advocating for good governance and respect of rule of law and one of the founders of Forum for Democratic change, the biggest opposition party, a product of the unification of Reform Agenda and PAFO, and was very instrumental in building structures and steering the party while Dr Besigye was in exile. Subsequently, he was voted as secretary for mobilization for FDC for two consecutive terms, a position he still holds to date. He is known to have campaigned vigorously for Dr Besigye while the later was in prison considering most of the other members were in their constituency campaigns. Major General Mugisha Muntu has served and is still serving as East African Member of parliament, a position he has held for two terms, served with distinction. As army commander, Major Gen. Mugisha Muntu, presided over the most disciplined army at a young age of 31, and with such power and authority that comes with commanding a national arm, he never lost focus. He remained calm, disciplined that he never got involved in intrigue or any corruption cases but stood out clearly as a man of high integrity until today. Mugisha Muntu is a very calm person in his approach but a very decisive and firm person in his decision making and with virtues of fairness and equality beforehand. Shortly after being relieved of his position of Army commander, he was appointed minister of state for defense a position he declined to take up because he did not believe the government still stood for principles of justice and fairness. Mugisha Muntu is a God fearing man who believes in God's will and guidance and seeks for his will in everything he does, and looks out to always glorify him in all he does. He is also a firm believer in systems as opposed to individuals as a way of governance
This is clearly illustrated in his life and decisions he has taken during his life particularly his choice to join the bush and liberation when he could have joined UPC, a government his father served and was admired, his decision to go back to the bush after almost losing his life after being shot in the chest and lasting his decision to decline a presidential appointment when it was clear he was unemployed and needed to survive on principle. In a nutshell, Mugisha Muntu is a very simple, dependable, God fearing person with exceedingly high levels of integrity. He is also a very calm, decisive person who is firm in his decision making and a man of his word, who delivers on what he seeks to do and always seeks out for others before himself, never compromised by tendencies of greed and deceit, always respectful irrespective of peoples' background, tribe and status but above all, a very capable, consistent, trust worthy leader who keeps his word and always seeks to do his best. Major Gen Muntu is married to a very beautiful and amazing woman, Julia Kakonge Muntu, and the couple have two children.