Kalimugogo: Renowned Ugandan writer dies

By Carol Kasujja

KAMPALA - Renowned author and former career diplomat Godfrey Kalimugogo has died aged 72.

He breathed his on Sunday night at Mengo Hospital in Kampala, his family said.

Kalimugogo’s son, Andrew Barungi, said his father had been unwell for two weeks. “He was taken ill to Mengo Hospital and he died of intestinal bleeding on Sunday.”

Most of Kalimugogo’s writings were inspired by personal experiences and society.

He exposed issues like corruption and domestic violence in some of his novels, says his wife Dr. Grace Kalimugogo.

So enchanting are his books that in 2004, A Visitor without a Mission won the Book of the Year award, while A Murky River won the National Book Trust of Uganda annual literary award in 2009.

Hailing from Kyocezo village in Kabale district, Kalimugogo went to Kihanga Boys’ School in Mparo, Rukiga, Nyakasura School in Fort Portal, Toro.

He graduated with an honours degree in English and classical literature from Makerere University in 1968, when it was still part of the University of East Africa.

He later obtained a post-graduate degree from the University of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday (today) at All Saints Cathedral in Kampala followed by a farewell service.

There will be a burial service at the family home in Noozi at St. John's Church of Uganda, Noozi, Rukiga in Kabale district on Friday, where Kalimugogo will be laid to rest.