Finance Minister Henry Musasizi has urged public servants to embrace purpose, discipline and commitment to national service, arguing that the way public resources are managed directly affects Uganda’s development.
Musasizi made the remarks on Friday evening at Hotel Africana in Kampala while launching Flow of Purpose: From Streams of Childhood to Building Uganda’s Water Future, a memoir by veteran water specialist Dr Callist Tindimugaya.
Speaking at the launch, Musasizi said the central message of Tindimugaya’s book — purpose — offers an important lesson for public servants and professionals working for the country.
“Purpose is how life becomes meaningful, and becomes useful for society, community and the country,” Musasizi said.
He said purpose gives people the motivation to remain focused, resilient and willing to make sacrifices in pursuit of the public good.
Musasizi stresses discipline in public service
The minister linked purpose to discipline in the management of public resources, saying accountability and responsible use of government funds are critical to maintaining public trust.
He said proper management of resources ultimately determines the quality of services delivered to citizens, including education, healthcare and access to clean water.
Musasizi’s remarks placed Tindimugaya’s personal story within a broader discussion about the responsibility of professionals and public officials to use their expertise in service of national development.
Water at the centre of Uganda’s transformation
Musasizi also used the occasion to highlight the strategic importance of water to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.
He cited Government’s approximately Shs1.3 trillion Integrated Water Management Development Project and the Shs6.8 trillion National Water and Sewerage Corporation Strategic Plan for 2025–2030 as examples of investments aimed at expanding access to clean water.
He also pointed to Greater Kampala water expansion projects, including the Kampala Water-Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Project in Ggaba, which he said have increased water supply to the metropolitan area.
“Water is life. We cannot have healthy lives without access to safe and clean water,” Musasizi said.
The minister said the importance of water extends beyond domestic consumption, with reliable water supplies also essential for agriculture, food security and industrialisation.
Irrigation key to reducing reliance on rainfall
Musasizi said Uganda must expand water-for-production initiatives to reduce dependence on rain-fed agriculture and improve the productivity of farmers.
He cited the Nexus Green Solar-Powered Water Supply and Irrigation Systems, the Farm Income Enhancement and Forest Conservation Programme covering 19 districts, and irrigation interventions at Atari, Acomai, Namatala and Agoro.
He said solar-powered irrigation could particularly help smallholder farmers access reliable water for production.
The minister linked the protection and productive use of water and other natural resources to the Government’s Tenfold Growth Strategy, which seeks to expand Uganda’s economy to US$500 billion by 2040.
“These natural resources are critical for sustainable industrialization, especially agro-industrialization, as they provide the raw materials for industry,” he said.
Musasizi praises Tindimugaya’s contribution
Musasizi also praised Tindimugaya for his contribution to water policies, strategies and partnerships at national, regional, continental and global levels.
He highlighted Tindimugaya’s contribution to the Nile Basin Initiative Governance Framework, saying it has supported cooperation and discussions around the equitable use of Nile water resources.
The Finance Minister said Tindimugaya’s career demonstrated how professional expertise, when guided by purpose, can contribute to national development.
Tindimugaya described his own journey using the imagery of a river, saying his career had grown from humble beginnings in Kigezi-Kabale into a long professional journey in the water sector.
“I feel like I started as a small stream, and I am ending as a very big river.”
Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi, who said he first met Tindimugaya when they joined the seminary, also praised his specialised contribution to Uganda’s water sector.
Baryomunsi said Tindimugaya is regularly consulted when senior government leaders require specialised information on water issues.
He also encouraged professionals to document their experiences and knowledge so that future generations can understand the journeys behind the people they encounter in professional and public life.
Musasizi formally launched Flow of Purpose, using the occasion to underline a message that extended beyond the memoir: that purpose, discipline and responsible service are essential to turning professional expertise into meaningful national development.
