If you’ve ever tuned into a Ugandan parliamentary session and thought, “Wait, is that an American accent I hear?”—chances are you were listening to Godfrey Atkins Katusabe, the MP for Bukonzo West in Kasese District. But there’s way more to him than just the way he speaks. Here’s a closer look at the man behind the mic: a scholar, a politician, and a pan-African thinker.
He’s Not Just an MP—He’s a Scholar Too
Katusabe isn’t your average Member of Parliament. Besides serving in Uganda’s 11th Parliament, he’s also the Shadow Minister for Public Service and formerly held the position of Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs. On top of that, he wears another big hat—Director of International Relations and Cooperation for the Council for Frontiers of Knowledge (CFK), an organization driving African development through research and innovation.
“We need homegrown solutions, grounded in our own realities, not borrowed templates,” he once told an academic panel in Munyonyo.
Born in Kasese, Educated at Makerere, Influenced by the World
Atkins was born in Bwera, Kasese District, and he hasn’t forgotten his roots. His late mother, Victoria Nzyabake, passed away in 2019, leaving behind a legacy of resilience. Today, he’s married to Sarah Achieng Opendi, the Woman MP for Tororo District, a political power couple in their own right.
Katusabe studied at Makerere University, where he got his Bachelor’s in Social Sciences, an Honors Degree in Political Science, and later, a Master’s in Population and Reproductive Health. He didn’t stop there. He also holds several postgraduate certifications in governance, public policy, and institutional monitoring.
The American Accent and His Time Abroad
Katusabe’s American accent often surprises people, but it makes sense when you consider his long stay in the U.S. That international exposure shaped how he views policy, leadership, and even education reform in Africa.
Student Leadership Was Just the Beginning
His leadership journey started back at Makerere University, where he served as the first Pioneer President of the Council of Graduate Students (COGS) in 2003. One of his most notable moments? Convincing the academic community to end a four-week strike and return to work—a move that showed just how persuasive and committed he was.
Later, he became the Pioneer President of the East African Council of Graduate Students (EACOGS), where he worked to bring stronger research cultures to graduate schools across the region.
Helping Shape Policy from the Ground Up
Katusabe didn’t just lead; he helped build academic policy at Makerere. He contributed to developing key frameworks like:
- The Quality Assurance Policy
- The Higher Degrees and Graduate Education Policy
- The Intellectual Property Management Policy
- The Joint Degree Awards Policy
If you’ve ever benefitted from graduate research support at Makerere, there’s a good chance his fingerprints are on it.
He’s Taken Uganda to the World Stage
Katusabe has led delegations to global education conferences and built partnerships with institutions committed to Africa’s development. A standout moment came when he co-organized the “Western Science Meets African Reality” conference in Munyonyo, 2012, bringing together some of the world’s brightest minds.
He also led student trips to Tullow Oil offices in Ireland and helped secure training in seismic analysis software (SEISAN) in Dublin. This is the kind of hands-on leadership that blends vision with action.
Yes, He’s a Published Academic
Katusabe doesn’t just talk policy—he writes it too. In 2014, he co-authored a piece in the International Journal of Transdisciplinary Research titled “Transdisciplinary Sustainability: The Council for Frontiers of Knowledge”. The paper explores how local knowledge can work with science to solve real-world African problems.
Controversy? He’s Been There Too
In 2019, Katusabe found himself in a parliamentary face-off with the late General Elly Tumwine. Along with fellow MP Cecilia Ogwal, he accused Tumwine of undermining the authority of Parliament. Tumwine fired back, calling the accusations “malicious” and demanded an apology. The matter was taken up by Parliament’s Rules Committee.
It was one of those moments that revealed Katusabe isn’t afraid to challenge authority—especially when it comes to defending institutional integrity.
The Takeaway
Godfrey Atkins Katusabe isn’t just a politician. He’s a visionary leader, a policy shaper, a global thinker, and yes, a guy with an accent you won’t forget. Whether he’s defending Parliament or pushing for academic reform, he’s always thinking several steps ahead.
In a country where leadership often feels short-sighted, Katusabe stands out for thinking about where Uganda—and Africa—should be in 50 years, not just five.
