Cancer battle inspired me to build a church — Kutesa

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Former foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa has revealed that he survived throat cancer in 2023.

“In November 2022, I was diagnosed with cancer of the throat, and I underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. I stayed in Germany for six months and recovered,” he said.

He made the remarks on Sunday (April 27) during the opening of All Saints Church in Sembabule district, which he and Tororo Cement Limited partnered to build.

“When I got out of that experience, I promised God and myself that I will build a church in His honour,” Kutesa, 76, said at the ceremony, which was graced by President Yoweri Museveni.

He added that another major reason for building the magnificent church was to honour the memory of his parents, who had received salvation, accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, and spread the gospel in that part of the world.

His father, Kosiya Kyamuhangire, was among the pioneers of the East African Revival Movement that swept across churches in the region.

He died in 1952 during a Christian convention in Rwanda, when Kutesa was four years old.

Prior to assuming the role of foreign affairs minister in January 2005, Kutesa served as the investment state minister from 2001. Before that, he worked as Attorney General.

In September 2019, Kutesa announced his retirement from elective politics after 25 years of being a permanent fixture in President Yoweri Museveni’s cabinet.

Kutesa was in private law practice between 1973 and 2001. He served as Mbarara North MP until 1985 and was a delegate to the Constituent Assembly that drafted the 1995 Constitution.

In 2001, he was elected Mawogola County MP and served until May 2021, when he was replaced in a general election by his daughter, Shartsi Musherure.