Humanist

Case in point, I do not think that Keith Kalyegira being appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) in 2013 is necessarily an example of negative tribalism. In other words, I do not think that he was appointed in the position solely because he is of the Batooro.

I am confident that Keith was likely appointed CEO of CMA because of his academic qualifications, expertise and his relevant experience. From his LinkedIn profile, after all, we learn that prior to being appointed CEO of CMA, he had held significant high-level positions in other corporations in both government and the private sector; moreover, in different countries other than Uganda.

His immediate job before he was appointed CEO of CMA was as the Strategic Advisor for the Energy, Water and Sanitation Authority of Rwanda. Prior to this he was:

• Managing Partner, Momentum Capital
• Managing Director, First Renaissance Security
• Head Parastatal Monitoring Unit, Privatization Utility Sector Reform Project
• Operations Advisor and Commercial Manager – Aviation, Shell South Africa
• Senior Accounts Representative and Aviation Manager, Shell Uganda

In the execution of his leadership roles, as named above, his expertise was sought after and not only benefited Uganda, but also other African countries, including but not limited to Rwanda, Zanzibar, South Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Ghana, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia.  

“Keith is a very clever and bright individual, quick and sharp in his analyser of high moral standards. It was great working with such a professional.”

Casper de Weerd, Fellow at Grey Legion, The Hague, Netherlands

“Keith proved good ability to formulate strategies based on well analyzed facts and showed strength and stamina in implementing them. His good sense and negotiating skills contributed to very good relations to the labour unions involved in the reform work, which was a decisive factor for the success of the assignment. As a client Keith was always accessible and ready to take decisions and actions needed.”

Sven Hilding, Business Owner, Stockholm, Sweden

Casper and Sven are two of hundreds of others highly skilled in Keith’s areas of expertise who have publicly endorsed his professionalism and abilities – there are 90 endorsements of his financial analysis skills; 113 for his skills in private equity; and 79 for his skills in investments. And this is only on LinkedIn. No doubt there are other endorsements of Keith in other spaces.

Yes, Noah Mutwe’s post on X insinuating Keith’s appointment as CEO of CMA was my last straw that has induced me to comment on the #UgandaTribalismExhibition:

I honestly do not think that Noah has searched for and has obtained evidence to substantiate his insinuation that Keith and his wife were unfairly appointed into the positions that they hold solely because of being of their first nation.

A discourse analysis of Noah’s post reveals that it is vague and leaves a lot of room for interpretation. As in it is feasible for one to infer that Keith and or his wife had a hand in influencing each other’s appointment into their respective roles, for example. A ludicrous interpretation, but that which is feasible of an impressionable mind .

For both positions, moreover, there was a recruitment process.

• Who were the other applicants and candidates who applied and were interviewed?
• Which candidates were of another first nation of Uganda, were more qualified than Keith and or Pamela Tibihikirra-Kalyegira, and were unfairly passed over?
• Who composed the recruitment committees and panels that did the interviews?

Answers to these questions are among the evidence that is needed to support or not the claim of tribalism. Without which Noah’s post and others similar seem irresponsible and slanderous. Such posts serve to deligitimize an otherwise useful tool and space to hold leaders to account.

We need fact-based revelations, the basis on which advocacy can be done for the better. Evidence-lacking innuendo, such as is the case in Noah’s post on Keith, is dangerous and only serves the purpose of fomenting hate and ‘tribal xenophobia’.

Before I end this post, let me take this opportunity also to clarify that what some consider negative tribalism, I don’t. If we, in Uganda, must keep the ‘tribalism analytical frame’, we must do so only in as far as it enables positive tribalism.

For example, I for one would love it if we could all speak and understand each other’s languages of our first nations of Uganda; and speak them in public offices. There is nothing wrong with that and it can never be an indicator of sectarianism as alleged thus:

Time is now to break the monopoly of English as Uganda’s only official language. Uganda is the most ethnically diverse nation in the world.

It does not make sense for Uganda to have only one official language and which is not of the first nations of Uganda. Languages of first nations of Uganda should be among Uganda’s official languages, this is positive tribalism that we need to deploy in ord to right historical injustices.