URA boss Musinguzi recounts his mother’s final moments
Musinguzi recalled that on the night of Sunday, October 25, 2026, his mother was in her usual condition of general weakness.
URA boss John Musinguzi putting a wreath on his mother's casket. (Courtesy photo)
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The commissioner general of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), John Musinguzi, has recounted his mother’s final moments, describing how she spent her last hours with family before passing away at their home in Kampala.
Lay Canon Verinah Rujoki, who died in her sleep three days ago at the age of 85, was also the mother of Kiruhura district woman MP Ruth Rujoki Mushabe.
At the time of her death, she was living with Musinguzi and his wife, Christine, at their home in Kampala.
Speaking on behalf of his siblings at her funeral service at All Saints Church, Nakasero, in Kampala, on October 28, 2026, the URA chief told mourners that his mother had started experiencing health problems around 2020.
“She had a complication which was paining her back and bringing her fevers and we went around so many hospitals in Uganda but we never found out exactly what it was. So, we made a decision to take her out [of the country], and with the support of Mzee (President Yoweri Museveni) and all the other family members, we were able to take her to Turkey,” he said.
He recounted that doctors in Turkey eventually discovered that she had brucellosis, which had affected her backbone.
“So, she started being unwell from that time, but after a successful treatment and surgery in Turkey, she then had knee replacements because her knees had gone weak; she would fall down every time she tried to walk, and then after that she suffered a fracture in 2024,” Musinguzi said.
He explained that his mother was struggling to walk when she fell and broke her leg.
“And then she had a mild stroke. So, some of her functions and her speech were getting impaired, but these were setting in gradually. So, for about the last five or six years, we started living with her in Kampala to give her better support, and that is the time we were fighting to take care of her as siblings,” the URA boss said.
He said she would take turns staying with her children at their respective homes in Kampala.
However, in April this year, after Easter, she told her children that she was tired of moving between their homes.
“She said I love you the same, but I know that as a Munyankole girl [that] from my father’s home, I move to my husband’s home and from my husband’s home after he has died and I can no longer stay in his home alone, I must move to my son’s home,” Musinguzi quoted her as saying.
Final moments
Musinguzi recalled that on the night of Sunday, October 25, 2026, his mother was in her usual condition of general weakness.
She had developed a slight cough earlier in the week, prompting Musinguzi and his siblings to contact her doctors.
“The doctors had responded efficiently and given us the prescription, which seemed to work well from Thursday to Friday. So, by Saturday, she was back to normal. She would sit with us and sing and pray,” Musinguzi said.
Despite her general weakness, he noted that his mother would never pray to God while lying down.
“So, at the time of prayer, at the family altar, we would push up her bed [to] be in a sitting position, and we would sing, and as we sang, she would sing along. And as we prayed, she would pray along. Her speech was limited, but she would answer back ‘Amen’ and sing some words.”
Musinguzi said this was what happened on October 25, 2026.
“She sang, she prayed at 9:00 pm with the children and the [two] nurses [who were staying with her], and they went to bed. I had been out for a vigil, so I came in at 10:00 pm, and as usual, I would wait on her door to feel if there was any activity there, especially if the light was off,” Musinguzi said.
He explained that whenever he stood outside his mother’s room and sensed no activity inside, he would let her sleep. If he noticed any activity, he would enter and greet her.
He said this was his opportunity to greet his frail mother and tell her “I love you”.
“Otherwise, she could be in my house for a week without seeing her. So, on Sunday night (October 25, 2026), when I was at her door, I had her cough, then I knew she was awake. So, I entered [and] I said, ‘Can I turn on the light?’ They [the two nurses] said, 'Yes, mummy is still awake'. So, I turned on the light, and I spoke to her.”
The 53-year-old URA chief said he asked his mother how her day had been, and she said she was fine.
His mother then asked where his wife was. He told her that Christine had been abroad but was expected to return on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
“She then said, 'Pray for me.' So, I prayed for her, and after the prayer she said, ‘Amen,’ and released my hand. I said, 'Maama, can I now go and sleep?' She said, 'Yes, go and sleep,' and I told her 'I love you, Mummy,' and she said, 'I love you too,' and said good night.”
Musinguzi told mourners that his mother remained well until her death.
“So, at 4:00 am (on October 26) I had a knock on my door and my daughter, Gabi, entered and she said, 'Daddy, kaaka (grandmother) is unwell'. So, I rushed down to check, [and] I found Maama sleeping in her normal position of sleep.”
He said her face looked peaceful when he found her lying in her usual sleeping position.
“There was nothing to show that she was distressed — even for a second, and I thought she was just asleep. So, I spent about 20 to 30 minutes trying to shake her and call her name until I realised it was different this time. She wouldn’t answer back.”
Musinguzi said he sent a message to his siblings informing them that their mother was unwell but appeared to be at peace.
“[I told them] I don’t know what is happening and after about another 30 minutes, I think sense came back to me and said, ‘Mummy may be gone; her eyes were closed so try and straighten her. Don’t let her keep sleeping on the side as if she is ok.’ And that is when I asked the nurses, ‘Is this how people go?’ They said yes,” he told mourners.
He said the nurses had also become like his mother’s children.
“I thought they would also be very professional and say no, but they were also confused, and they started crying. So, I called them to order, and we straightened mom as these children started to arrive and all our precious friends very quickly.”
Musinguzi said her doctor also arrived and examined her.
“And he (doctor) said maama has gone to Heaven. So, I saw a peaceful departure of our mother to Heaven, and I have no doubt she has gone to Heaven because that was her prayer all throughout,” Musinguzi said.
Rujoki will be laid to rest on October 30, 2026, at her home in Kacumbiro village, Nyabushozi County, Kiruhura district.