Mourners on Friday gave moving speeches and eulogies to the last Managing Director of the defunct Uganda Commercial Bank, Dr. Frank Mwine who passed on last month.
Speaking at the his requiem mass at All Saints Cathedral, relatives and colleagues described the late Mwine as one who lived a role model life.
Ernst Kakwale, the former Coffee Marketing Board boss and a friend to the deceased said he met Mwine about 60 years ago during the school days in Mbarara.
“In 1986 he was appointed to head UCB as I worked at Coffee Marketing Board. He was a hardworking man who also believed in encouraging others to excel.”
Kakwale added that both worked tirelessly to implement World Bank policies but said it was unfortunate when in the 90s they heard on radio that they had been sacked from their respective bodies.
Family members at the requiem mass
Former UCB fellow staff Daniel Nsibambi described the late Mwine as a force to reckon with especially when he was at the forefront of putting in place schemes that saw the bank extend help to farmers at no cost.
“Such schemes saw Uganda become self-sufficient in agriculture and slowly evolved into a regional food basket. All these were his endless efforts to see Uganda transform,” Nsibambi said.
“He helped extend UCB branches to rural areas of the country as the bank became attractive to many. He is also remembered for introducing computerization of transactions.”
Dr Mwiine succumbed to a brain condition
Mwine’s sister and Deputy Head of Ugandan Mission in Canada, Margret Kyogire described the deceased as a funny and charming brother who loved everyone around him regardless of their status.
“He was not just a brother but a friend in whom I always found joy being near .We would go singing for homesteads in the entire village on Christmas day including homes for non-Christians and pagans,” she recalled.
At the requiem mass also was Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, who described the late Dr. Mwine as a high flyer who always worked and looked for the best in life.
The Premier consoles one of the sons of the deceased
“He was a clear example of someone who wanted to see others excel. He pioneered the wealth creation program. He lived a life every one strives to emulate,” Rugunda said of ‘his closest friend.’
He hailed Dr.Mwine’s family including brothers Martin Mwesiga who died in Mbale during the liberation war and Lt. Col. Sam Magara who was one of the first commanders of the NRA in 1981.
Death
According to Dr, Kato Ssebbaale, Mwine’s personal doctor, he one day realized Dr.Mwine’s eyes were turning yellow and recommended for a check- up that later found out that he had a brain tumor.
“We worked around the clock and flew him to the USA where he was operated successfully and all of us were happy,” Dr.Ssebbaale said.
“Little did we know that another condition that affects the brain, movement, thinking and swallowing but without cure had set in. It was this condition that killed him.”
Biography
Born in 1940 in Mbarara, Dr.Frank Mwine attended Kyamate Primary School, Mbarara and Ntare schools before moving to the US where he attended Dartmouth College and graduating Harvard University with doctorate in law in 1970.
He worked for World Bank for over 16 years rising to the rank of Division Chief for Africa before being appointed by President Museveni as the Managing Director of Uganda Commercial Bank in 1986.
Dr. Mwine is survived by 3 sons Ntare Guma Mbaho,Wamara Komuhangi and Eric Kasasira from his first marriage to Patience Sabiti and a daughter Saba from his second marriage to Sawsan Fadl Mohamed.
He will be laid to rest at Kashari in Mbarara district.