Apolo Nsibambi

Apolo Robin Nsibambi (25 October 1940 – 28 May 2019) was a Ugandan academic and politician who served as the 8th Prime Minister of Uganda from 5 April 1999 until 24 May 2011, when Amama Mbabazi succeeded him.

A distinguished scholar of political science, he taught at Makerere University from the 1960s and later held several senior academic positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Head of the Department of Political Science. He was also Director of the Makerere Institute of Social Research between 1994 and 1996. Beyond academia, Nsibambi served in government as Minister of Public Service (1996–1998) and Minister of Education and Sports (1998–1999) before his appointment as Prime Minister. From 2003 to 2007, he became the first non-Head-of-State Chancellor of Makerere University. Widely regarded as an intellectual statesman, Nsibambi was noted for bridging academia and politics, and during his tenure as Prime Minister he described Makerere as an “intellectual cradle” for fellow scholar Ali Mazrui. He is remembered for his contributions to public service and higher education in Uganda.

Early life and education Apolo Robin Nsibambi was born on 25 October 1940. He was one of 12 children born to Eva Bakaluba and Semyoni Nsibambi, a leader in the Balokole movement or the "East African Revival". Apolo Nsibambi attended King's College Budo for his high school education. He held a Bachelor of Science degree in economics, with honors, from the Makerere University. He also held a Master of Arts degree in political science from the University of Chicago in the United States. His Doctor of Philosophy degree was obtained from the University of Nairobi.

Career Nsibambi served as the dean of Faculty of Social Science at Makerere University from 1978 until 1983 and from 1985 until 1987. He was appointed head of the Department of Political Science at Makerere University in 1987, a position he held until 1990. He was Director of the Makerere Institute of Social Research from 1994 to 1996.

In 1999, Apollo Nsibambi delivered the keynote address at the Ugandan North American Association (UNAA) convention in Atlanta, Georgia.

Personal life He married Esther Nsibambi in March 2003 after the death of his first wife, Rhoda, in December 2001. He was the father of four daughters. He was a practising Anglican. Nsibambi died on 28 May 2019, at the age of 78.