Ambassador Wapenyi dead

By Raymond Baguma

Uganda’s former ambassador to Paris and the United Nations, Eldad Wapenyi has died.

The ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson Elly Kamahungye said that Wapenyi died last evening (Monday) from his home in Muyenga, a Kampala suburb.

“He has been sick for some time,” added Kamahungye.

According to Kamahungye, Wapenyi was born in 1936 in Mbale district and was among the pioneer group of ambassadors of post-independent Uganda.

He was also at one time the permanent secretary of the ministry of foreign affairs and later worked as the Principal Private Secretary of former President Godfrey Lukongwa Binaisa.

Prof. Arthur Gakwandi, who was Wapenyi’s contemporary as a Foreign Service Officer said, “He was a patriot, suave, open-minded and consummate diplomat. We met in the 1960 and worked together and in retirement, I have been playing golf with him.”