{{short description|Ugandan politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Abdu Katuntu | constituency = Bugweri | parliament = Parliament Of Uganda | party = Independent | birth_place = Butende | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|12|03}} | alma_mater = Makerere University | profession = Lawyer | image = Katuntu Abdu.jpg | predecessor = Munyagwa Mubarak Sserunga as Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) }}
'''Abdu Katuntu''' (born 3 December 1965)<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2022-11-28 |title=Abdu Katuntu: Biography, Age, Education, Family and Wife |url=https://flashugnews.com/abdu-katuntu-biography-age-education-family-and-wife/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=Flash Uganda Media |language=en-GB}}</ref> is a Ugandan politician and lawyer currently serving as the Member of Parliament for Bugweri County<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2019-06-26 |title=BoU scandals linked to Mutebile succession-Katuntu |url=https://www.independent.co.ug/bou-scandals-linked-to-mutebile-succession-katuntu/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=The Independent Uganda |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Katuntu Abdu – 2021 General Election – Visible Polls |url=https://visiblepolls.org/ug/2021-general-election/candidates/katuntu-abdu-6950/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=visiblepolls.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> in Bugweri District.<ref name=":0"><!--Birth date is in dd/mm/yyyy format on the website--> {{Cite web |title=Mr. Katantu Abdu |url=http://www.parliament.go.ug/mpdata/mps.hei?p=f&n=t&details=t&j=109.000000&const=Bugweri++County&dist_id=18.000000&distname=Iganga |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809022734/http://www.parliament.go.ug/mpdata/mps.hei?p=f&n=t&details=t&j=109.000000&const=Bugweri++County&dist_id=18.000000&distname=Iganga |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 9, 2015 |access-date=2016-03-19 |website=Parliament of Uganda}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Katuntu is a practicing lawyer with a Bachelor of Laws degree from Makerere University and a Diploma in Law from the Law Development Centre.<ref name=":0" />
== Work experience and political career == Katuntu is a former member of the Pan-African Parliament representing Uganda<ref>[http://www.africa-union.org/organs/pan%20african%20parliament/List%20of%20Members%20pap.pdf Pan-African Parliament members as of 15 March 2004] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518171107/http://www.africa-union.org/organs/pan%20african%20parliament/List%20of%20Members%20pap.pdf|date=18 May 2011}}</ref> and served as the Rapporteur of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights.<ref name=":1" />
Katuntu worked for Kadaga and Company Advocates, a law firm owned by Rebecca Kadaga.<ref name=":1" />
He was a member of the Forum for Democratic Change party until 2021.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Katungulu |first=Amon |date=2022-04-01 |title=Museveni appoints Abdu Katuntu minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs |language=en-US |work=Nile Post |url=https://nilepost.co.ug/2022/04/01/museveni-appoints-abdu-katuntu-minister-of-justice-and-constitutional-affairs/ |access-date=2023-02-03}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> He served as the Shadow Attorney General in the Parliament of Uganda until 2018,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Opposition names new shadow cabinet: Alice Alaso to PAC |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Opposition-names-new-shadow-cabinet-/688334-2203736-lyomyqz/index.html |access-date=2020-05-30 |website=Daily Monitor |language=en}}</ref> when he was replaced by Wilfred Niwagaba.<ref>{{Cite web |last=child |date=2018-03-07 |title=Shadow Cabinet |url=https://www.parliament.go.ug/page/shadow-cabinet |access-date=2020-05-30 |website=www.parliament.go.ug |language=en}}</ref>
Katuntu was first elected to the Parliament of Uganda in 2001.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />
He lost his parliamentary seat in the 2006 Ugandan general election to Kirunda Kivejinja but challenged the result, citing widespread malpractice.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anti-Katuntu Demonstrations Held in Bugweri County |url=https://ugandaradionetwork.net/story/anti-katuntu-demonstrations-held-in-bugweri-county |website=Uganda Radionetwork |language=en |access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref> The court found that "during the campaign period and on polling day, there was widespread intimidation and torture in Bugweri Constituency," which biased the result in favor of Kivejinja.<ref>{{Cite court |litigants=Katuntu Abdu v Kirunda Kivejinja Ali and Another (Election Petition No. 7 of 2006) |court=UGHC |date=31 December 2006 |url=http://old.ulii.org/ug/judgment/high-court/2007/3 |accessdate=2016-03-19}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Katuntu won the resulting by-election.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Katuntu wins hotly contested Bugweri byelection |url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1213362/katuntu-wins-hotly-contested-bugweri-byelection |website=www.newvision.co.ug |access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
Katuntu was re-elected for another term in Parliament in the 2011 general elections.
Katuntu served as the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Rules and Discipline.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-09 |title=How MP stage-managed return of Shs40m 'bribe' |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/how-mp-stage-managed-return-of-shs40m-bribe--3942556 |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=Monitor |language=en}}</ref> This committee concluded that Francis Zaake was guilty of insulting Anita Among, resulting in his removal from the position of Parliamentary Commissioner.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Zaake protests police raid at his home after retrieving govt car – Kampala Sun |url=https://www.kampalasun.co.ug/zaake-protests-police-raid-at-his-home-after-retrieving-govt-car/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-17 |title=Zaake petitions Constitutional court to block impeachment |url=https://www.independent.co.ug/zaake-petitions-constitutional-court-to-block-impeachment/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=The Independent Uganda |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-11 |title=MP Zaake loses Parliamentary Commission seat |url=https://www.independent.co.ug/mp-zaake-loses-parliamentary-commission-seat/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=The Independent Uganda |language=en-US}}</ref>
Katuntu was the chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE). He was replaced by Mubarak Munyagwa in 2019.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-08-28 |title=MP Mawanda secures leave to introduce BoU Amendment Bill |url=https://www.independent.co.ug/mp-mawanda-secures-leave-to-introduce-bou-amendment-bill/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=The Independent Uganda |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-25 |title=Munyagwa takes over COSASE leadership |url=https://www.independent.co.ug/munyagwa-takes-over-cosase-leadership/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=The Independent Uganda |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-07 |title=MPs grill private hospitals for retaining dead bodies, exorbitant fees |url=https://www.independent.co.ug/mps-grill-private-hospitals-for-retaining-dead-bodies-exorbitant-fees/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=The Independent Uganda |language=en-US}}</ref>
Katuntu is known for recovering 47 billion Ugandan shillings from rogue Chinese road construction firms in 2016.<ref name=":1" />
Katuntu headed the Parliament of Uganda's task force on COVID-19, assisted by five other members of Parliament. The members were tasked with assessing the role of private health sector players.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-30 |title=Parliament sets up taskforce to oversee Covid-19 interventions |url=https://www.independent.co.ug/parliament-sets-up-taskforce-to-oversee-covid-19-interventions/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=The Independent Uganda |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-08 |title=MPs furious as minister fails to announce Covid-19 vaccine delivery date |url=https://www.independent.co.ug/mps-furious-as-minister-fails-to-announce-covid-19-vaccine-delivery-date/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=The Independent Uganda |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-02 |title=Auditor General tasked to carry out forensic audit into Covid-19 expenditures |url=https://www.independent.co.ug/auditor-general-tasked-to-carry-out-forensic-audit-into-covid-19-expenditures/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=The Independent Uganda |language=en-US}}</ref>
Abdu Katuntu joined NRM in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kakembo |first=Muhammad |date=2024-09-11 |title=It’s official: Katuntu, Mapenduzi join NRM |url=https://observer.ug/news/it-s-official-katuntu-mapenduzi-join-nrm/ |access-date=2026-04-11 |website=The Observer |language=en-US}}</ref> == Controversies == Katuntu was described by Yoweri Museveni as a "poisonous mushroom" who was out to suffocate government programs, as he addressed a rally in Busesa, Bugweri County.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Museveni calls MP Abdu Katuntu 'poisonous mushroom' |url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/articledetails/1132391 |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=New Vision |language=en}}</ref>
Julius Galisonga, a candidate for the Forum for Democratic Change in the 2021 general election, filed an election petition against Katuntu at the Jinja High Court. Galisonga accused Katuntu of conspiring with the Uganda Electoral Commission to undermine the fairness of the election process.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-10 |title=Court rejects Abdul Katuntu's witnesses over inconsistencies |url=https://www.independent.co.ug/court-rejects-abdul-katuntus-witnesses-over-inconsistencies/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=The Independent Uganda |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-02 |title=Court of Appeal upholds Abdu Katuntu's victory |url=https://www.independent.co.ug/court-of-appeal-upholds-abdu-katuntus-victory/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=The Independent Uganda |language=en-US}}</ref> Katuntu had won the election with 17,813 votes, while Galisonga received 9,074 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-29 |title=Galisonga appeals against election petition ruling |url=https://www.independent.co.ug/galisonga-appeals-against-election-petition-ruling/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=The Independent Uganda |language=en-US}}</ref>
== See also == * List of members of the ninth Parliament of Uganda * List of members of the tenth Parliament of Uganda
== References == <references />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Katuntu, Abdu}} Category:1965 births Category:Forum for Democratic Change politicians Category:Law Development Centre alumni Category:Living people Category:Makerere University alumni Category:Members of the Pan-African Parliament from Uganda Category:Members of the 9th Parliament of Uganda Category:People educated at Kiira College Butiki Category:Members of the 10th Parliament of Uganda Category:Members of the 11th Parliament of Uganda