KK: Born for the bar

INTERVIEW:

Kiryowa Kiwanuka Nsumikambi Mugambe lives his dream

In legal practice, the only thing you have is your name. Kiryowa Kiwanuka is a big name. At 43 years, he has had some of the highest profile cases even though he has been in private legal practice for only 15 years. His most recent engagement was as lead counsel for President Yoweri Museveni’s team against a petition challenging the Feb. 18 election outcome brought to the Supreme Court by former presidential candidate, Amama Mbabazi.

With no English name tagged to his identity, Kiryowa Nsumikambi Kiwanuka Mugambe was born in Gombe although he spent his early life in Nairobi-Kenya. This, he says, was because his grandfather Jolly Joe Kiwanuka allegedly been killed by the president Idi Amin and his father, Jimmy Mugambe Kiwanuka (RIP) felt threatened. They returned to Uganda in 1880 paving way for Kiryowa to attend school at Budo Junior, Kings College Budo and Makerere College Schools. In 1993, Kiryowa entered Makerere University in 1993 to pursue his childhood dream of being a lawyer. He finished the bar course in 1997.

In 2000, he opened up a private firm – Kiryowa Kiwanuka and Company advocates which lasted for only seven months. He partnered with President Museveni’s son-in-law; Edwin Karugire, in Kiwanuka and Karugire Advocates and Solicitors.

He met his wife, Sarah in 1997. They have four children. His youngest brother, Bakadde Kiwanuka, is also a practicing lawyer in the UK.

Frankly speaking with Kiryowa Kiwanuka

Any three things we don’t know about you?

At 43 years, I have argued the highest case in the land. Aside from that I am a golfer and family man. I am an African Muganda from Gombe with no English name and an ardent supporter of President Museveni.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

There is nothing like perfect happiness but only satisfaction. As human beings, when we achieve milestone one, we want to go to the next. Satisfaction, therefore, is a moving target which is a whole nature of humanity.

What is your greatest fear?

Leaving my children unprepared to face the world.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

At times, I am too dismissive; at times I regret why I didn’t let go. I can however very easily come back and admit it.

Which living person do you most admire?

President Museveni for his patience; he is always willing to talk to someone and explain a couple of times. I also admire my mother because by the time my father died, I was still young and it was not an easy path. She is a hardworking person a trait she instilled in us and we have all taken it on.

What is your greatest extravagance?

I love cars. Those I dream about, I haven’t been able to afford them as yet. My dream car is a Range Rover.

What is your current state of mind?

Always at ease.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Titles; we are a society that is so fixated on titles and forget that It doesn’t make you any different from the next person. It’s such a problem that some people even forget who they are and what they have to do because of titles.

On what occasion do you lie?

If I depend on it to survive and whether it is necessary.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

I am very happy the way I am.

Which living person do you most despise?

Anyone who reigns on self conceit and makes everything up and about him or her

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Humility; he should allow the next person to go and come after.