Ramathan Ggoobi, the newly appointed Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, has vowed to fulfil his belief in implementing the economics that works for people and the economy.
The lecturer of economics at Makerere University Business School (MUBS) was on Thursday, July 15, 2021 appointed by President Museveni to replace long serving Keith Muhakanizi, who is reported to be ill.
On Friday, 16 July 2021, Ggoobi thanked the President for the appointment.
“H.E the President, thank you for the trust in appointing me to serve in this noble office. To the people of Uganda, thank you for the support and love. To the world, this simple boy from Butambala believes in economics that works and hates accountability without results,” he tweeted.
In an earlier interview, Ggoobi has reiterated his principle: “Sometimes, people ask me that as an economist, which side am I and I tell them that I am a disciple of economics which works.”
Born in Ngando, Kitagobwa – Butambala to two teachers, Ggoobi studied at Kitagobwa UMEA Primary and Secondary schools, before joining Makerere University. Inspired to love economics by the former governor of Bank of Uganda, Dr Sulaiman Kiggundu (RIP), who gave talks at Ggoobi’s school.
He graduated from Makerere University in 2003, being among the best students and was recalled to teach Economics at the university.
But before the process of induction would be completed, Ggoobi was contactedto offer the same services at Kampala International University (KIU). A month later, Kampala University was in need of his services which he also offered to deliver. Ggoobi says that he juggled both to make ends meet until he was contacted by MUBS.
Aside from living his career dream, he is also passionate about imparting and sharing knowledge with others; especially young people. He set off to change the face of economics in the country from a complicated and mathematised discipline to make it user friendly. That was more than ten years as an undergraduate student of economics at Makerere University.
Although he had chosen to be an economist as early as senior three, Ggoobi was tasked with a tough course which he says appeared like rocket science.
“The way it is taught makes it appear like rocket science yet it deals with real life and everybody would be interested,” said Ggoobi.
“I had a critical mind and vowed that if I ever become a teacher, I would change the way it is taught”.
This would finally be his best and for the last ten years, he has taught economics at the institution.
“I must confess that it has been a very beautiful journey,” he says, “Most of my students have testified that my way of teaching helped them to love economics.”