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Ex-Museveni spokesman Tamale Mirundi dies
Joseph Tamale Mirundi
What you need to know:
- Mirundi was sacked by President Museveni as his press secretary in July 2015, a postition he had held for about 13 years.
- He was born in Matale-Kalagala Village, Kalisizo Town Council, Kyotera District as the ninth child of Molly and the late Tamale Mirundi.
Political commentator and presidential advisor on media matters, Joseph Tamale Mirundi is dead.
The former presidential press secretary died of lung-related complications on Tuesday at around 11:40pm at Kisubi hospital in Kampala, according to family sources.
“He has been in hospital for over a month. He had even started showing signs of improvement. On Sunday and Monday, he seemed okay. The doctors said he had water in his lungs. They have been sucking it out. However, today his health condition deteriorated and when they tried to suck the fluid out, it was blood,” one of his sons told this reporter on phone.
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Mirundi was sacked by President Museveni as his press secretary in July 2015, a postition he had held for about 13 years.
Since then he has been appearing on different television stations and vlogs commenting on politics and current affairs.
"As a journalist, civil servant, and social-political commentator, Mirundi made significant contributions to his country, and his loss leaves a great void. My sympathies go out to counsel John Mirundi, the entire family, his friends, and relatives," Speaker Anita Among eulogised.
The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, described Mirundi as a patriotic friend and brother.
" I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my friend and brother Tamale Mirundi. We were friends and colleagues for over 20 years. He was a bold and fearless person who always fought for the truth. Uganda has lost a patriot who loved his country. May his soul rest in peace," reads a statement on Gen Muhoozi's X handle.
Born in 1964 to Molly Namatovu and Yowana Mirundi, the outspoken National Resistance Movement (NRM) members went to Rubaga Senior Secondary School for higher education and later joined Makerere University.
About Mirundi
Mirundi was appointed President Museveni's spokesman in 2003.
He over the time curved out for himself the reputation of a man who would say anything to defend the President, along the way winning as many admirers as enemies and leaving no one in the middle.
He was born in Matale-Kalagala Village, Kalisizo Town Council, Kyotera District as the ninth child of Molly and the late Tamale Mirundi.
He came to Kampala in 1979 for secondary school, and began writing for Munno newspaper in 1981 while in Senior Three at Rubaga S.S.
He graduated with a degree in Mass Communication from Makerere University. In 1998, he left Munno to start his own two newspapers, The Voice and Lipoota, but the newspapers failed to pick up.
Funeral programme for Tamale, according to President Museveni's deputy press secretary, Faruk Kirunda
Wednesday 14th Aug 2024 - Vigil and Mass at Zana Residence
Thursday 15th Aug - Requiem Mass at St. Gyaviira Catholic Church Bunamwaya at 10:00am, then body taken to Zana Residence for overnight Vigil
Friday 16th August - Body taken to Kyengera Residence for Mass at 10:00am and overnight Vigil
Saturday 17th Aug - Body leaves for Kalagala Village in Kaliisizo, Rakai District for Vigil
Sunday 18th Aug - Burial Ceremony starts at 10:00am at Kalagala Village, Kaliisizo in Rakai District.
