Bugweri County Member of Parliament Abdu Katuntu has today officially handed over the Chairperson-ship of the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) to Mubarak Munyagwa.
Katuntu asked Munyagwa to deal with backlog and focus on institutions with huge budgets as opposed to scattering efforts on all agencies under its watch.
Munyagwa promised to handle all matters before him judiciously, working with all Committee members in unison.
The Kawempe South legislator was appointed to the position by Patrick Amuriat, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president.
He was supposed to assume his new role last month but he was delayed by Katuntu and colleagues who had insisted that they would handle over office after finalizing the Bank of Uganda probe. The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga decided to extend their tenure to February 20 to give them time to complete their assignment.
Meanwhile, Munyagwa’s appointment sparked mixed reactions among Ugandans whereby critics said that making him Cosase boss was the biggest joke of the century by the main opposition party whereas some sympathizers disclosed that the legislator should be given chance as he may turn out to be better than his predecessor.
He studied from Kitagwenda High School for his O’ Level, Nakasero Secondary for his A’ Level and Law Development Centre where he attained a Diploma in Law.
Known for his comic character, Munyagwa is not new to the political scene. Before becoming MP, he was a mayor for Kawempe from 2011 to 2016.
During mayoral campaigns in 2010, Munyagwa was kidnapped but later found along Entebbe Road. After the incident, he garnered public sympathy thus winning the election by a landslide.
While a mayor, Munyagwa was on several occasions arrested by police for staging protests.
One time in 2012, he was arrested after his foiled protest against the rampant killings of Muslim clerics.
In 2014, Munyagwa was condemned by Sheikh Nuhu Muzaata for carrying out anti Islam duas (prayers) he had held in the bush with a group of politicians to extol for President Yoweri Museveni’s downfall.
In 2017, the legislator was remanded to a civil prison after failing to pay shs100 million he owed a one John Baptist Maali as a result of botched land transaction.
He was later rescued by his tight friend Dr. Kizza Besigye who coughed part of the money which was demanded for his release.
During the FDC presidential race last year, candidate Munyagwa stepped down to pave way for Amuriat who is now the party president after defeating Mugisha Muntu.
His campaign manager and aide, Sulutan Nkobe, said: “We sat as a committee and saw that Mr Amuriat is more senior and that is why we have chosen to withdraw.”
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