{UAH} I’m fit for Cabinet job, says Mateke - National - monitor.co.ug
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I'm fit for Cabinet job, says Mateke - National
Dr Mateke during an interview in Kisoro District yesterday. PHOTO BY ROBERT MUHEREZA
In Summary
The 72-year-old says he is competent to handle the Regional Cooperation ministry and will use his experience to cause positive impact.
Kisoro- Dr Philemon Mateke, the incoming minister for Regional Cooperation, has vowed to take on his appointment with composure to ensure peace and stability in the Great Lakes Region.
Dr Mateke, in an interview with Daily Monitor yesterday, since he was appointed in a Cabinet reshuffle on Sunday, pointed out that he is not a king-maker in Kisoro District, but a peacemaker.
"I am not a king-maker in Kigezi region, but because of being honest many people trust and strongly believe in me. I am not greedy like some politicians after being elected into offices they forget to serve the people that elected them," Dr Mateke said.
Since his appointment, the media has been awash with stories labelling him as a 90-year-old well past retirement who should be consigned to history.
However, Dr Mateke clarified that he was born in 1942, making him just 72 years old.
"The position given to me was the right one. I am competent enough to handle it (ministry). Given a conducive working environment, I will use my experience to cause positive impact, especially causing unity for development and promoting peace and stability in the region," he said.
The former Kisoro chairperson spoke fondly about his years as Minister of Education in the Obote II regime and his stint as Labour minister under the current government in the 1990s.
"I served faithfully during my tenure as an Education minister...I remember at that time, there was "starvation" in the education sector and immediately we constructed and rehabilitated 450 education institutions... I am proud that I made a serious impact," he recalled.
The 72-year-old lauded President Museveni for appointing him minister and pledged to work with his government diligently. Dr Mateke replaced Mr Asuman Kiyingi who was named minister of state for Works.
Dr Mateke said he was ready to work with all NRM party leaders in Kigezi to ensure that Mr Museveni wins in the region.
He also called for mending of broken fences between the President and former prime minister Amama Mbabazi.
"In case of any cracks or misunderstandings between the two, they should be mended quickly for the good of the NRM party," he said.
Born in 1942 in Bufumbira County, Kisoro, Dr Mateke completed his O-Level in Kigezi College Butobere and joined Busoga College Mwiri for his A-Level before he joined Makerere University in 1967.
In 1971, he was employed as an assistant lecturer at Makerere University before he joined London University in 1972 where he pursued further studies and returned to Makerere University as a full lecturer in 1974.
He was in 1979 appointed the chairman of UNLF for the then Kigezi district and in 1980 after UPC elections; he was elected Member of Parliament for Bufumbira West in Kigezi district.
Dr Mateke was elected a member of the NRC in 1987 representing Bufumbira County and a member of the Constituent Assembly in 1995. He retired voluntarily and opted to join local politics.
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-fit---Cabinet--job--Mateke/-/688334/2642864/-/r2u9r1z/-/index.html
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