Who is Lucy Nakyobe? Flash Uganda Media looks at her biography, age, husband, family, tribe, and relationship with late Prof Anthony Kabanza Mbonye, the early life and education of the currently the head of Public Service and Secretary to the Ugandan Cabine.
Lucy Nakyobe is a female Ugandan administrator, leader, civil servant and social scientist.
She is the former State House Comptroller Uganda having been in that office since 2010 after taking over from Richard Muhinda.
Lucy Nakyobe is currently the head of Public Service and Secretary to the Ugandan Cabinet.
Early Life and Education
Lucy Nakyobe was born in Uganda to the Buganda tribe and she belongs to the Gomba clan.
She attended Makerere University Kampala, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences in 1990.
Later in 1995, Nakyobe graduated with a PGD from the Uganda Management Institute (UMI) under Makerere University.
In 1999, Nakyobe obtained a master’s degree in Public Administration and Management from Makerere University.
Education background summary
| Years | Institution | Status /Award |
| 1990 | Makerere University | Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences |
| 1995 | Uganda Management Institute (UMI) | PGD |
| 1999 | Makerere University | Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Management |
Other academic accomplishments
Besides her major academic accomplishments, Nakyobe has gone on to enroll for different other courses which have broadened her academic credentials.
In 1991, Lucy Nakyobe obtained a certificate in Law for Administrative Officers and in December of the same year, she obtained a certificate in Data Management.
In August 2002, Nakyobe studied Advanced Leadership Skills for Women, Johannesburg, May 2002, Specification, preparation and writing course while in June 2002, Nakyobe attended a course in Bid preparation and tender evaluation among others.
In May 2003, she attended the Basic Cadre Development Course at the National Leadership Institute, Kyankwanzi, and in June 2003, the Specification Writing course, while in August 2003, she attended the Contract Management course.
In October 2006, Nakyobe attended a Coaching and mentoring course at the British Council.
In May 2007, Nakyobe studied a course on Indicators for Policy Management, MDGs and Statistical Literacy and in March 2007, she studied a Leadership and Team-building Course under the British Council.
In June 2009, Nakyobe obtained a certificate in Leadership and Change Management under the Uganda-Ontario Partnership and attended a Good Governance Program at the same time.
Marriage / Relationship
Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye is a widow, she was married to the late Prof Anthony Kabanza Mbonye who was the former Health Director-General of Health Services.
He succumbed to peritoneal cancer on July 25, 2021, at Kampala Hospital. His family believes that Mbonye’s health issues stemmed from the several public setbacks he experienced while working at the Ministry of Health, which led to stress and stomach ulcers, which eventually progressed into the fatal ailment that took his life.
They have four children and two grandchildren.
Career and Professional Work Experience
From 1989 to 1990, Lucy Nakyobe served as a research assistant on behavioural risk studies among Baganda women under Case Western Reserve University / Makerere University, Collaborative Research Project.
From 1990 to 1991, she joined the State House and worked as the Assistant Secretary of the Environment Protection Department and then from 1991 to 1992, she served as the assistant secretary of the Energy and Natural Resources Department.
She was the assistant secretary of Tourism and Wild Life at the State House from 1993 to 1994.
From 1994 to 1995, Nakyobe was the assistant secretary at the Office of the President and then from 1995-1998, she served as the assistant Secretary at the State House.
Before being named the State House Comptroller from 2010 to 2021, Lucy Nakyobe served as an Undersecretary of Finance and Administration in Vice President Bukenya Gilbert’s office in the accounts department of the State House.
Nakyobe was in charge of creating annual policy statements, work plans, procurement strategies, budget frameworks, and budget projections while serving as the State House Comptroller.
On Monday 23rd August 2020, Lucy handed over the office of State House Comptroller to Jane Barekye, formerly the Economic Affairs Special Presidential Assistant.
President Museveni appointed Lucy Nakyobe as the new head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet in a reshuffle announced on July 15, 2021, replacing John Mitala.
Work experience background summary
| Years | Institution | Position |
| 1989 – 1990 | Case Western Reserve University/Makerere University, Collaborative Research Project | Research Assistant |
| 1990 – 1991 | Environment Protection Department, State House | Assistant Secretary |
| 1991 – 1992 | Energy and Natural Resources Department, State House | Assistant Secretary |
| 1993 – 1994 | Tourism and Wild Life, State House | Assistant Secretary |
| 1994 – 1995 | Office of the President | Assistant Secretary |
| 1995 – 1998 | State House | Assistant Secretary |
| Accounts Department of the State House | Undersecretary of Finance and Administration | |
| 2010 – 2021 | Government | State House Comptroller |
| 2021 – Present | Government | Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet |
Other Career accomplishments
The publications of Pearson-Marks J, McGrath JW, Rwabukwali CB, Schumann Da, Nakayiwa, Namande B, Nakyobe L, and Mukasa R all benefited greatly from Lucy Nakyobe’s contributions.
Additionally, she made contributions to the fields of social science, medicine, and anthropology and AIDs: the cultural background of sexual risk behaviour among urban Baganda women in Kampala, Uganda.
Achievements and Awards
President Museveni appointed Lucy Nakyobe as the chief executive officer of the NAM-G77 summit organizing committee in February 2023.
She was later praised for the success of both of the events since they were concluded without any missing reports or chaos as opposed to any other summits that have ever been held in Uganda.
Controversies
Lucy Nakyobe said in January 2020 that Full Figure did not have an official government appointment letter.
Later, Full Figure replied by saying that in broad daylight and in front of everyone, President Museveni designated her as one of his advisers along with Catherine Kusasira and Buchaman.
