She is better known for her work as the Chief Executive Director of Uganda Investment Authority (Dec 1999-Jun 2011) – a period of 11 years 7 months. She is currently, in her semi-retirement working as the Board Chairperson of Zuri Model Farm Ltd in Wakiso since April 2013, amongst many other responsibilities that also include being a grandmother.
Work History
Maggie worked as a physician for 17 years, eleven of which were at Mulago hospital. She also worked as a physician in Zambia between 1977 to 1979 and thereafter to Kenya (1980-1986). In Zambia and Nairobi, Maggie was partly in half-exile with her late husband, Dr. Eng. Daniel Kigozi who twice had to run away from Idi Amin Dada and then, Dr. Milton Obote for being a Museveni collaborator.
In 1986 after Yoweri Museveni had taken power, she returned to Uganda with the husband and worked as a physician for Members of Parliament and their families for a period leading up to 1994. In June 1994, she quit her medical profession and crossed to the corporate world joining Crown Beverages Limited serving there as the Marketing Manager until Nov 1999 for a period of 5 years-7 months.
During her tenure at Crown Beverages, she was appointed board member of Uganda Manufacturers Association.
In December 1999, she was appointed Chief Executive Director of UIA where her role was to oversee strategic planning and management of a market-oriented government agency. During her 11-year reign, foreign direct investments grew from $200 million in 2000 to $845 million by 2010 with total planned investments worth $2.2 billion in 2009. Total direct jobs stood at 4,000 and 3.2 million indirect jobs were created as a result of setting up successful investments.
She is a businesswoman in her own right. She is a shareholder and director of Crown Beverages Limited, the franchisee bottler for PepsiCo Inc. in Uganda that bottles a range of carbonated soft drinks that include: Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Mirinda Fruity, Mirinda Orange, Mirinda Pineapple, Mirinda Green Apple, 7UP and Evervess Tonic. They also bottle Nivana water in four variants namely; Tangerine, Strawberry, Still and Sparkling.
Letters to My Younger Self: Winnie Nakimuli—"You Are Worthy Simply Because You Exist"After her husband’s death in 1994, she assumed his place on the company board and she, along with businessmen Amos Nzeyi and Chris Kayoboke grew the business, attracting the interest of South Africa’s International Pepsi-Cola Bottler Investments who in 1997 acquired a 51% stake. But in 2001, the trio re-acquired the 51% stake, making it 100% Ugandan owned.
To date, they have invested over USD200 million (Ugx740 billion) in the business, creating the company into one of Uganda’s top 20 taxpayers, with a turnover in excess of UGX347.9 billion (2018).
Maggie has also had several other responsibilities that include:
- Director of the Board of Uganda Export Promotion Board;
- Founder of Uganda Investment Authority Women Entrepreneurs Network;
- Member of the Global Banking Alliance for Women (GBA) Advisory board;
- Chancellor of Nkumba University;
- Chief Scout of the Uganda Scouts Association
- Chairperson – Akina Mama wa Afrika
- Board Member, Commercial Bank of Africa
In recognition of her contribution to business, Maggie was recognised as an Honorary Professor of Economics by Makerere University in 2007. She was recognised, alongside businessmen Professor Gordon Wavamunno and James Mulwana (RIP) as well as Charles Kwesiga, the Executive Director, Uganda Industrial Research Institute.
Education
Maggie attended Agha Khan primary school (1955-1962) and joined Gayaza High School for O’Level (1963-1967) and Kololo Senior Secondary School for her A ‘Level (1968-1969). In 1970, Maggie joined Makerere University School of Medicine where she graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (1974).
