The President has directed that Keith Muhakanizi, the former permanent secretary in the prime minister’s office be accorded a state burial.
Muhakanizi was pronounced dead last week after he sucummbed to a long illness in Italy where he had gone for specialised treatment.
While addressing journalists on over the weekend at the Office of the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja said he will be recognized for his contribution to the development of the country.
Nabbanja said; “For his remarkable service to the country, the President has directed that he is accorded an official burial in honour of his great contribution to the country”
She stated that the permanent secretary at the Office of the President Hajji Yunus Kakande has been appointed the chairperson of the National Organizing Committee for the burial.
Chris Baryomunsi, the ICT Minister said the deceased will get a gun salute and all other ceremonies and events surrounding an official burial.
His body will be flown in on Wednesday and burial announcements will take effect.
A state burial is provided in law for specified public officers while official funeral is granted by the President to any person for, among others, their exceptional contribution to the country or other causes.
State funerals are also associated with issues like the body lying in state in Parliament, flags flying at half mast and declaration of a national day of mourning.
People entitled to state funerals include past and present presidents, vice presidents, speaker and deputy speaker of parliament, Chief Justice and his deputy, Prime ministers and deputy prime ministers, Movement chairperson and high ranking military officers killed in battle. These also extend to heads of state statutory institutions, ambassadors and high commissioners and people who have made a significant contribution to the country.
For official funerals, the state partially participates in the burial arrangements. The body is brought in parliament for viewing but doesn’t lie in state.
Muhakanizi was Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
Muhakanizi was instrumental in Macroeconomics policy and planning, financial sector growth and private sector growth in the country and has served in various departments at the Ministry for years.
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.
More policy reforms and enhancing public financial management to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of public resource use to promote enhanced domestic resource mobilization.
Muhakanizi, who has been at the Ministry for more than a decade has been instrumental in designing major policy changes along with Chris Kassami.
Muhakanizi is also a board chairman of National Housing and Construction Company and a member of numerous other boards.