President Yoweri Museveni has directed that the former minister and educationalist, Joyce Mpanga, be accorded an official burial following her death on Saturday, November 18.

Milly Babalanda, the Minister of the Presidency, announced this on her social media platform X account on Sunday.

“I wish to inform the general public that H.E [His Excellency] the President has granted an official burial to the fallen former Minister of State for Primary Education, Joyce Mpanga,” she wrote.

“The N.O.C [national organising committee] and family will issue a detailed burial program. Sympathies to the family and fellow Ugandans,” the minister added.

An official burial means that the Government will cover all burial expenses for the late minister and longstanding advocate for gender equality in the country.

According to the family, Mpanga will be buried on November 23 at her family’s burial ground in Maya, Wakiso district, on Masaka Road. 

Mpanga, who was a woman of many firsts, died on arrival at Kampala Hospital on Saturday, November 19, aged 90.  

“She woke up with chest pain and then she was rushed to Kampala Hospital, but she died on arrival,” Dr Florence Kasirye, her sister, told New Vision on Sunday.  

She said the deceased has been the icon of the family. “She’s the firstborn and did everything for us. So, we will always remember her,” she said.  

Kasirye said her sister will be laid to rest at 2:00 pm but the burial ceremony will start at 11:00 am.   

She said a vigil will be held this Sunday evening at the deceased’s residence in Lungujja on Kintu Musoke Road, Rubaga Division, Kampala.  

On Monday, there will be a church service at St Stephens Church, Lungujja, at a time yet to be communicated, before another vigil is held at her residence.  

Another vigil will be held on Tuesday, November 21, at Lungujja at 7:00 pm before the main funeral service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe, at 2:00 pm.  

“Official vigil will be held on Wednesday at Lungujja at 7:00 pm before she is taken to her final resting place at Maya on Thursday,” Kasirye said.  

Mpanga was married to the late Andrew Frederick Mpanga, Buganda Kingdom's solicitor general and later attorney general.  

She was a mother to seasoned lawyer and Buganda Kingdom minister for lands and properties, David Mpanga.  

Her career started in 1958 as a teacher at Makerere College School, through to being a deputy headmistress at Gayaza High School and heading the teachers’ association, now Uganda National Teachers Union.

She went on to become a legislator, cabinet minister, and later member of the Buganda Lukiiko (parliament).