Gerald Ssendaula
Gerald Majera Ssendaula | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 15, 1943 Kyabbogo Village, Kingo sub-county, Masaka District, Uganda |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, banker, agriculturalist |
| Years active | 1980–2005 (politics) |
| Known for | Former Cabinet Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; Member of Parliament for Kingo sub-county |
Gerald Majera Ssendaula is a former Ugandan politician who has since transitioned into banking and agriculture. He previously held positions as a Cabinet Minister and served as the Member of Parliament representing Kingo sub-county, which is currently within Lwengo District.
Background and education
Born on 15 May 1943 in Kyabbogo Village, located in Kingo sub-county (formerly part of Masaka District), Ssendaula is the firstborn among eight siblings. In 2010, Kingo sub-county was incorporated into the newly established Lwengo District.
His educational journey started at Kyoko Primary School before he transferred to Nkoni Primary School and subsequently St. Pius Junior Secondary School. Although financial constraints initially hindered his schooling, a scholarship was reinstated in 1963 through connections with officials from the Buganda Kingdom, enabling him to attend Namilyango College from Senior One through Senior Six.
In 1969, Ssendaula enrolled at Nairobi University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree. His classmates included distinguished Ugandans such as Livingstone Okello Okello, FDC's Cecilia Ogwal, and Professor Mondo Kagonyera.
Work experience
Following his studies in Kenya, Ssendaula returned to Uganda to work at Barclays Bank, where he had previously been employed as a clerk during his Senior Six vacation. He completed a two-year 'Day Release' administrative training program at Barclays Bank London. His assignments included a stint at the bank’s Kabale branch before undertaking further in-house training in Nairobi. Upon returning to Uganda, he advanced to the position of General Manager at Barclays Bank.
Ssendaula entered the political arena in 1980 when he was elected as Member of Parliament for Bukoto in Masaka District on the Democratic Party ticket, serving until 1985. Between 1988 and 1992, he held the role of Masaka District Chairman and was elected to the National Resistance Council (the parliamentary body at that time) representing Bukoto in 1992. During this period, he also chaired the Masaka Growers Cooperative Union.
Political life
Ssendaula’s political career commenced in 1980 as a Democratic Party MP for Bukoto Central (currently divided into Bukomansimbi and Masaka Municipality). With the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) government in power and the Democratic Party in opposition, he functioned as the shadow spokesperson for Housing.
In 1982, his wife Rosemary Nanyonga Nalongo was tragically killed during a government crackdown linked to rebel activities at their grocery store in Mpererwe, near their residence. This event prompted Ssendaula to join the National Resistance Army around 1984, influenced by Commander Victor Bwana. Utilizing his leadership within the Masaka Cooperative Union, he assisted the rebels by facilitating exports of coffee and hides to generate financial support. At that time, the NRA had established control over captured areas with its headquarters based in Fort Portal. Ssendaula served as a commissioner within this rebel administration.
Following the NRA’s ascension to power, he briefly worked within the National Resistance Movement Secretariat to oversee the transition of rebel export operations into formal government management. In 1987, Ssendaula was elected chairman of Masaka District under NRM governance and joined the enlarged National Resistance Council legislature as Bukoto MP in 1989.
President Museveni appointed him deputy minister of Commerce and Co-operatives in 1990 under Minister Richard Kaijuka. In 1996, Ssendaula was elevated to Minister of Natural Resources. Early in 1998, he took office as Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, a position he held until his retirement from active politics in 2005.
Though initially elected on a Democratic Party ticket (1980–1985), Ssendaula later aligned himself with the NRM movement. His ministerial roles included Deputy Minister of Commerce and Cooperatives (later renamed Ministry of Trade and Industries) from 1991 to 1996; Minister of Natural Resources and Environment from 1996 to 1998; followed by leadership of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development from 1998 until stepping down in 2005.
Other considerations
As of February 2015, he is engaged full-time in farming activities in Masaka and holds the position of Adviser to President Museveni on Financial Affairs. Additionally, he acts as a Consultant for the World Bank, chairs the Uganda Revenue Authority, leads the Board of Directors at Tropical Bank, and serves as a Director at both Umeme Ltd and NUCAFE. He was formerly married to Grace Tereza Nabatanzi Ssendawula, who was the daughter of Ugandan Democratic Party figure Paul Ssemogerere; she passed away in 2011.