Kahinda Otafiire
Encyclopedia
Major General
Kahinda Otafiire is a Uganda
n politician
and military officer. He is the current Minister of Justice & Constitutional Affairs in the Ugandan Cabinet
. He was appointed to that position of 27 May 2011. He is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ruhinda County, Mitooma District
in the Ugandan Parliament.
in Social Science. He also holds a certificate in the French Language
.
in the National Resistance Army
(NRA
) guerrilla organisation, where he served as the Chief Political Commissar from 1981 until 1984. Between 1984 and 1986, the title of his job was called National Political Commissar, also in the NRA. Just prior to the NRA capturing power from the military junta in Kampala
in 1986, he served as Commissioner, Internal Affairs Interim Administration, in the areas under NRA administration from 1985 until 1986.
Between 1986 and 1988, he served as Minister of State for Internal Affairs. From 1988 until 1992, he served as the Presidential Assistant for Security. He then served as the Director General of the External Security Organization (ESO) from 1992 until 1994.
From 1994 until 1995, he served as a delegate
to the Constituent Assembly
which drafted the 1995 Uganda
Constitution. He then served as Minister of State for Security from 1994 until 1995. From 1996 until 2001, Kahinda Otafiire served as Minister of State for Local Government. He was elected to Parliament in 1996.
Between 1998 and 2001, he served as the political head of the Uganda Military Expedition into the Democratic Republic of the Congo
. In 2001, he was appointed Minister of State for Regional Cooperation, a position he served in until 2003. In that year he was appointed Minister of Land, Water and the Environment. He served in that capacity until 2006. Otafiire has also served as Minister for Local Government, prior to becoming Minister of Trade and Industry in February 2009. He served in that capacity until he was appointed Uganda's Justice Minister in May 2011.
and teaching. He is a Major General
in the Uganda People's Defence Force
(UPDF).
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Kahinda Otafiire is a Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and military officer. He is the current Minister of Justice & Constitutional Affairs in the Ugandan Cabinet
Cabinet of Uganda
According to the Constitution of Uganda, "there shall be a Cabinet which shall consist of the President, the Vice President and such number of Ministers as may appear to the President to be reasonably necessary for the efficient running of the State."...
. He was appointed to that position of 27 May 2011. He is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ruhinda County, Mitooma District
Mitooma District
Mitooma District is a district in Western Uganda. It is named after its main municipal, administrative and commercial center, Mitooma.-Location:...
in the Ugandan Parliament.
Education
Kahinda Otafiire holds the degree of Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Social Science. He also holds a certificate in the French Language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
.
Work experience
Kahinda Otafiire first worked as a Youth Officer from 1975 until 1976. He then worked as a Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1976 until 1980. In 1981, he joined Yoweri MuseveniYoweri Museveni
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is a Ugandan politician and statesman. He has been President of Uganda since 26 January 1986.Museveni was involved in the war that deposed Idi Amin Dada, ending his rule in 1979, and in the rebellion that subsequently led to the demise of the Milton Obote regime in 1985...
in the National Resistance Army
National Resistance Army
The National Resistance Army , the military wing of the National Resistance Movement , was a rebel army that waged a guerrilla war, commonly referred to as the Luwero War or "the war in the bush", against the government of Milton Obote, and later that of Tito Okello.NRA was supported by Muammar...
(NRA
NRA
NRA is an abbreviation that may mean:* National regulatory authorities , government agencies tasked with regulating and supervising sections of public service and economy...
) guerrilla organisation, where he served as the Chief Political Commissar from 1981 until 1984. Between 1984 and 1986, the title of his job was called National Political Commissar, also in the NRA. Just prior to the NRA capturing power from the military junta in Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
in 1986, he served as Commissioner, Internal Affairs Interim Administration, in the areas under NRA administration from 1985 until 1986.
Between 1986 and 1988, he served as Minister of State for Internal Affairs. From 1988 until 1992, he served as the Presidential Assistant for Security. He then served as the Director General of the External Security Organization (ESO) from 1992 until 1994.
From 1994 until 1995, he served as a delegate
Delegate
A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization at a meeting or conference between organizations of the same level A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization (e.g., a government, a charity, an NGO, or a trade union) at a meeting or conference...
to the Constituent Assembly
Constituent assembly
A constituent assembly is a body composed for the purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution...
which drafted the 1995 Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
Constitution. He then served as Minister of State for Security from 1994 until 1995. From 1996 until 2001, Kahinda Otafiire served as Minister of State for Local Government. He was elected to Parliament in 1996.
Between 1998 and 2001, he served as the political head of the Uganda Military Expedition into the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
. In 2001, he was appointed Minister of State for Regional Cooperation, a position he served in until 2003. In that year he was appointed Minister of Land, Water and the Environment. He served in that capacity until 2006. Otafiire has also served as Minister for Local Government, prior to becoming Minister of Trade and Industry in February 2009. He served in that capacity until he was appointed Uganda's Justice Minister in May 2011.
Personal details
Kahinda Otafiire is married. He is reported to enjoy readingReading (process)
Reading is a complex cognitive process of decoding symbols for the intention of constructing or deriving meaning . It is a means of language acquisition, of communication, and of sharing information and ideas...
and teaching. He is a Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in the Uganda People's Defence Force
Uganda People's Defence Force
The Uganda Peoples Defence Force , previously the National Resistance Army, is the armed forces of Uganda. The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates the UPDF has a total strength of 40–45,000, and consists of land forces and an Air Wing.The IISS Military Balance 2007 says there...
(UPDF).
Parliamentary duties
Besides his duties as Minister of Justice, he sits on the following parliamentary committees:External links
See also
- Parliament of Uganda
- Cabinet of UgandaCabinet of UgandaAccording to the Constitution of Uganda, "there shall be a Cabinet which shall consist of the President, the Vice President and such number of Ministers as may appear to the President to be reasonably necessary for the efficient running of the State."...
- Uganda People's Defence ForceUganda People's Defence ForceThe Uganda Peoples Defence Force , previously the National Resistance Army, is the armed forces of Uganda. The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates the UPDF has a total strength of 40–45,000, and consists of land forces and an Air Wing.The IISS Military Balance 2007 says there...
- Mitooma DistrictMitooma DistrictMitooma District is a district in Western Uganda. It is named after its main municipal, administrative and commercial center, Mitooma.-Location:...