Pius Bigirimana

Pius Bigirimana
OSN
Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Judiciary
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 2019
Appointed byYoweri Museveni
Preceded byExpedito Kagole Kivumbi
Permanent Secretary – Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development
In office
2013 – July 2019
Appointed byYoweri Museveni
Preceded byGuwatudde Kintu Christine
Succeeded byJames Ebitu
Board Member – International Labour Organization
In office
2017–2019
Permanent Secretary – Office of the Prime Minister
In office
October 2008 – 2013
Appointed byYoweri Museveni
Preceded byEdith Mwanje
Succeeded byGuwatudde Kintu Christine
Under Secretary – Ministry of Health
In office
2006–2008
Under Secretary – Ministry of Public Service
In office
2005–2006
Under Secretary – Ministry of Education and Sports
In office
1999–2005
Principal Assistant Secretary – Office of the President
In office
1993–1999
Assistant secretary – Office of the President
In office
1988–1993
Senior Assistant Secretary – Ministry of Local Government
In office
Jun.1988–Nov.1988
Assistant Secretary – Ministry of Justice and Attorney General
In office
1986–1987
Assistant District Commissioner Mbale
In office
1984–1986
Assistant District Commissioner Kisoro
In office
1983–1984
Personal details
Born (1958-03-22) 22 March 1958
Kisoro District, Uganda
CitizenshipUgandan
SpouseElizabeth Bigirimana
EducationBachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Administration from Makerere University
Master of Arts in Development Administration from University of Manchester
Master of Business Administration from Eastern and Southern African Management Institute
OccupationCivil servant, public administrator, author
Known for
Public Service leadership; Permanent Secretary[1]
Awards
Distinguished Order of the Source of Nile[2]
WebsiteHomepage

Pius Bigirimana (born 22 March 1958) is a Ugandan civil servant and public administrator.[1] He currently serves as the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Judiciary of Uganda, a role he has held since July 2019.[3][4][5] Before this, he served as Permanent Secretary in both the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.[6][7]

His career began in the 1980s as an Assistant District Commissioner. Over the decades, he held several senior administrative roles within the Office of the President and various other ministries, eventually becoming Permanent Secretary in 2008.[8]

His work has included roles in public administration and government programme implementation.[9]

In May 2023, he was elected Vice President of the Uganda Association of Public Administration and Management, which is linked to the African Association for Public Administration and Management.[10]

He is married to Elizabeth Bigirimana. In 2023, they marked their 25th wedding anniversary.[11]

Early life and education

Early life

Pius Bigirimana was born and raised in Uganda’s Kisoro District, to the late Peter Kalerangabo, during the post-independence period in Uganda. He was the seventh of ten children.[5] His father was known locally for supporting formal education among his children.[5][12][6]

Education

He started school at Gatete Primary School in Kisoro before moving to Mutolere Primary School where he completed his primary education and completed his secondary studies at St. Mary’s College, Rushoroza.[12]

Bigirimana was admitted to Makerere University from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Administration degree in 1983.[5] He later obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Administration in 1988 and Master of Arts in Development Administration in 1991 from the University of Manchester.[6] In 2010, Bigirimana completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute in Arusha, Tanzania.[13]

Career

Early public service

Pius Bigirimana’s career began in the Kisoro District as an Assistant District Commissioner. By 1984, he had transitioned to Mbale District in the same capacity. His roles also included serving as an Assistant Secretary and Personal Assistant to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.[14]

He took on the role of Senior Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government followed by a post as Principal Assistant Secretary in the Office of the President.[15] His experience as an Under Secretary is diverse, having served across the Ministries of Education and Sports, Defence, Public Service, and Health.[16][17][6]

Permanent Secretary appointments

Office of the Prime Minister (2008–2013)

In October 2008, Bigirimana was appointed Permanent Secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). For five years, he acted as the chief administrative and accounting officer, overseeing the coordination of various government programs.[13][18]

He helped implement the Peace, Recovery, and Development Plan and the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund, both aimed at rebuilding communities after conflict.[19]

He was associated with conceptualization and development of the Uganda Annual Government Performance Review.[20][13]

Between 2006 and 2007, he worked on restructuring how Global Fund and GAVI finances were managed to improve transparency following previous funding issues in the health sector.[19]

While his time at the OPM involved public scrutiny regarding donor funds for Northern Uganda, Bigirimana sought to clear his name through the legal system. In 2021, the High Court ruled in his favor in a defamation case related to those reports.[5][21]

Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (2013–2019)

Following his tenure at the OPM, Bigirimana spent six years as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.[22][23] He is associated with creating and launching the Youth Livelihood Programme,[24][25][26] the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme,[27][28][19] and the Green Jobs Programme.[19][29][30]

Judiciary of Uganda (2019–present)

In July 2019, Bigirimana was appointed Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Judiciary of Uganda.[31] In this role, he manages the administrative functions of the courts, including budgets, personnel, procurement, and planning.[32][33]

During his tenure, the Judiciary has introduced Electronic Court Case Management Information System, which allows for digital filing and case tracking,[34][35] constructed court buildings, including new homes for the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, as well as upgrading local Magistrates' Courts,[36][37][38] and expanded the use of video conferencing tools to connect courts with prisons, allowing for more efficient remote proceedings.[39][19][40]

Office Position Term start Term end
Office of the Prime Minister (Uganda) Permanent Secretary October 2008 2013
Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (Uganda) Permanent Secretary 2013 July 2019
Judiciary of Uganda Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Judiciary July 2019 Incumbent

Regional and professional roles

Beyond his national duties, Bigirimana has represented Uganda in regional judicial administration bodies across Southern and Eastern Africa. In these roles, he participated in regional forums on court administration and cooperation among member states.[41][42][43]

Literary work

Bigirimana has written on governance, leadership, and social integrity.[44][9] Some of his published titles include: From Tears to Cheers, Youth Livelihood,[45][44] Corruption: A Tale of Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing,[46] Unchained: A Public Servant with a Private Sector Mindset,[47][48] A small book with big quotes,[49] Abundance Mentality,[50][51] and Naked Truth.[52][53][54][55]

In 2021, the High Court of Uganda ruled in Bigirimana's favor regarding a defamation lawsuit against Monitor Publications Limited. The court awarded him damages and issued a permanent injunction to prevent the publication of further defamatory material against him.[5][56][57]

Anti-corruption activities and controversies

During his tenure at the Office of the Prime Minister, Bigirimana, according to media reports, raised concerns about financial irregularities in the Office of the Prime Minister’s accounting systems through internal memoranda, which were later examined during investigations into the OPM funds scandal.[58] Several media reports described his role in reporting these issues as that of a whistleblower within government.[59][60][48]

In 2014, Bigirimana published Corruption: A Tale of Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, a book addressing issues of governance, accountability, and the management of public resources.[46] He later published Unchained: A Public Servant with a Private Sector Mindset, which also discusses public administration and institutional reform.[48]

While serving as Permanent Secretary to the Judiciary, Bigirimana reported suspected irregular payments for investigation.[61] Public statements during this period referenced financial discipline, procurement compliance, and administrative accountability within the institution.[62]

Community involvement

According to Nile Post and ChimpReports, Bigirimana has supported various community-driven projects in Kisoro District where he has been particularly active in local health initiatives, including efforts to develop and improve regional health facilities.[63][64]

Awards and honours

In December 2021, Bigirimana was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Leadership and Management. This honour was conferred by the Geofidel Institute of Leadership and Management (United Kingdom) in collaboration with Stratford University (United States) to recognize his leadership and service.[65]

He is also a recipient of the Distinguished Order of the Source of the Nile (Class One), one of Uganda’s highest national honours for outstanding service to the state.[13] He was formally decorated with this award during the 2023 Labour Day celebrations.[19]

References

  1. 1 2 "News: Bigirimana calls on government to hire more judges". New Vision. 2023-05-02. Retrieved 2026-02-09.
  2. ↑ Nankya, Stella (2023-05-06). "What you Should know about "the Distinguished Order of the Source of the Nile Class One Medal" the Highest State Honor awarded to Dr Pius Bigirimana". Trumpet News. Retrieved 2026-03-01.
  3. ↑ "Pius Bigirimana – The Innovating Justice Forum 2021". Retrieved 2026-02-09.
  4. ↑ "Bigirimana transferred to Judiciary". The Observer. 2019-07-26. Retrieved 2026-02-09.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ssonko, Joram Ssonko (2021-12-10). "Pius Bigirimana wins defamation case against Monitor Publications". Uganda Times. Retrieved 2026-02-09.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Kisakye, Frank (2020-05-26). "Bigirimana gets 3 more years". The Observer. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  7. ↑ "Bigirimana Sues ICC Judge Sebutinde Over Bugolobi Multi-Storey Building". Uganda Radionetwork. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  8. ↑ "PS Bigirimana Gets Contract Extension". www.judiciary.go.ug. Retrieved 2026-02-09.
  9. 1 2 "Museveni launches two books authored by PS Bigirimana". Monitor. 2020-07-30. Retrieved 2026-02-09.
  10. ↑ "PS/SJ Voted Vice President of National Administrators\' Body". judiciary.go.ug. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  11. ↑ "People: PS Bigirimana, wife celebrate silver jubilee in holy matrimony". New Vision. 2023-09-10. Retrieved 2026-02-09.
  12. 1 2 "Book Review: Title: Abundance Mentality; My Autobiography (2nd Edition)". ChimpReports. 2020-07-26. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Dr Pius Bigirimana Honoured with "Order of the Source of the Nile Class One Medal"". ChimpReports. 2023-05-06. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  14. ↑ "REMARKS BY THE PERMANENT SECRETARY/ SECRETARY TO JUDICIARY AT THE DIPLOMA IN LAW AND CERTIFICATE IN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS LAW COURSE GRADUATION CEREMONY – Law Development Centre". Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  15. ↑ admin (2024-08-22). "Dr.Pius Bigirimana: A Public Servant With A Private Sector Mindset Continues Judiciary Transformation With Contract Extension". The Capital Times. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  16. ↑ Reporter, Vision. "Your Story About Kisoro Was Not Quite Accurate". New Vision. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  17. ↑ "PS Bigirimana Gets Contract Extension". judiciary.go.ug. 2020-05-22. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  18. ↑ Reporter, Vision. "Why can't MPs leave Bigirimana do his work?". New Vision. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "PROFILE: A public servant with a private sector mindset- the Pius Bigirimana we don't know". CEO East Africa. 2023-05-06. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  20. ↑ "Pius Bigirimana Secretary to Judiciary on Staff evaluation :: Uganda Radionetwork". ugandaradionetwork.net. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  21. ↑ URN (2022-10-15). "Court stays Shs 450m Daily Monitor defamation compensation to Bigirimana". The Observer. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  22. ↑ "Uganda elected to the International Labour Organisation governing body". The Independent Uganda. 2017-06-13. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  23. ↑ "Bigirimana Moved To Gender In PS Shake Up". Uganda Radionetwork. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  24. ↑ Rwamasyoro, Steven (2017-08-16). "YLP funds transforming lives of youth population; says Bigirimana". Trumpet News. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  25. ↑ "Museveni praises Bigirimana on youth project". Monitor. 2021-01-20. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  26. ↑ Asiimwe, George (2019-05-08). "Bigirimana Tasks Districts On New Guidelines For Youth Livelihood Programme". ChimpReports. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  27. ↑ "Government starts women entrepreneurship programme". Monitor. 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  28. ↑ "Women Win Big As Cabinet Approves Changes In UWEP Implementation Guidelines". ChimpReports. 2019-04-10. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  29. ↑ "Business Focus is under construction". 26 July 2019. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  30. ↑ "Are green jobs the answer to youth unemployment?". The Sunrise Newspaper. 2019-05-17. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  31. ↑ "Bigirimana Heads to Judiciary as Kagole is Forced Out". Uganda Radionetwork. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  32. ↑ "Why M7 Appointed Bigirimana New Judiciary PS". The Capital Times. 2019-07-26. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  33. ↑ "New Judiciary PS Bigirimana Assumes Office". judiciary.go.ug. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  34. ↑ Lumu, David (2019-11-22). "New electronic system to ease expedition of justice". The Observer. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  35. ↑ "Judiciary unveils Shs9b digital system to track cases". Monitor. 2020-09-14. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  36. ↑ "Judiciary to save billions as new court buildings near completion". The Independent Uganda. 2023-08-06. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  37. ↑ Nyeko, Christopher (2025-07-23). "News: Gulu-based sh30b regional Court of Appeal construction starts". New Vision. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  38. ↑ "Judiciary highlights achievements amidst challenges in case backlog". Tiger FM. 2024-11-25. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  39. ↑ Gahene, Ambrose (2019-09-20). "Judiciary signs MoU for Digitization of Courts". CIO Africa. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  40. ↑ "Judiciary unveils 11 video conferencing sets to improve access to justice". The Independent Uganda. 2025-03-22. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  41. ↑ "Bigirimana Elected Chairperson For Southern and Eastern Africa Judiciary Administrators Body". Uganda Radionetwork. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  42. ↑ "PS/SJ Bigirimana Scoops SEAJAA Chairperson Role". judiciary.go.ug. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  43. ↑ "Southern And Eastern Africa Judiciary Administrators Discuss Improving Access To Justice". Plus News. 2024-06-15. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  44. 1 2 Kamoga, Jonathan (2016-04-02). "PS Bigirimana's new books launched". Eagle Online. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  45. ↑ "Bigirimana lauds First Lady in two new books". Monitor. 2021-01-16. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  46. 1 2 "Bigirimana's launches corruption book, angers legislators". Daily Monitor. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
  47. ↑ Kazibwe, Kenneth. "Unchained: Ideological clarity key in cleaning Uganda's public service, says Bigirimana in new book". Nilepost News. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  48. 1 2 3 "Inside Bigirimana's 5th Book: 'Unchained: A Public Servant with a Private Sector Mindset'". ChimpReports. 27 August 2022. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
  49. ↑ "PJ launches PS Bigirimana's 'A Small Book of Big Quotes'". judiciary.go.ug. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
  50. ↑ Kasule, Farooq (2026-03-23). "Love & Relationships: Chief Justice launches PS Bigirimana's second intimacy book". New Vision. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  51. ↑ Aine, Kim (2020-07-25). "Museveni Launches PS Bigirimana's Two New Books at State House". ChimpReports. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  52. ↑ Kasule, Farooq (2026-03-23). "Love & Relationships: Chief Justice launches PS Bigirimana's second intimacy book". New Vision. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  53. ↑ Katungulu, Amon. "Bigirimana Launches Naked Truth Part Two, Says Sex Alone Cannot Sustain Marriage". Nilepost News. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  54. ↑ "Bigirimana replaces traditional marriage mentors, says Chief Justice Zeija". Monitor. 2026-03-23. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  55. ↑ Independent, The (2023-10-03). "PS Bigirimana defends self over sex book". The Independent Uganda. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  56. ↑ Muhindo, Clare (2021-12-11). "Court orders Monitor Publications to pay PS Bigirimana Shs450m in defamation case". African Centre for Media Excellence. Retrieved 2026-02-09.
  57. ↑ "Court Adjourns Monitor Appeal Against Bigirimana's UGX450M Win". Uganda Radionetwork. Retrieved 2026-02-09.
  58. ↑ "Untold Story: How Bigirimana Memo Set Off OPM Storm". ChimpReports. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
  59. ↑ admin (2020-08-05). "Whistleblower: PS Bigirimana Unearths Shs1.6bn Payment Scam in Judiciary". The Capital Times. Retrieved 2026-05-04.
  60. ↑ "Bigirimana's gospel against corruption". Daily Monitor. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
  61. ↑ "Three arrested as police intercepts Shs1.6b scam". Daily Monitor. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
  62. ↑ "Bigirimana: I brought sanity to the judiciary". The Observer. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
  63. ↑ Katungulu, Amon. "Bigirimana establishes Kisoro community health facility in memory of late sister". Nilepost News. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  64. ↑ "Bigirimana Builds Community Health Facility in Kisoro | ChimpReports". chimpreports.com. July 2018. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  65. ↑ "Bigirimana gets honorary PhD in leadership and management". The Observer (Uganda). 24 December 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
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