CID boss Magambo hailed at son's requiem mass

KAMPALA - The director of Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), Assistant Inspector General of Police Tom Magambo, has been hailed at a requiem mass for his eldest son, who drowned while swimming with friends.

Timothy Muganzi Magambo, 18, drowned on May 16, 2026, at a beach in the US’s most populous city of New York. 

He was the eldest of the two children of Magambo and his wife, Carol.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa described Muganzi’s death as “a tragedy of the nation” and prayed for his soul to rest in eternal peace.

“When I read through the words Carol wrote about the [deceased] son, I said if you have not dedicated enough time to clear parenting, you wouldn’t have a son or a child you can describe this way, and I think this is a tragedy of the nation,” he said.

He made the remarks on Tuesday (May 26) at a Requiem Mass at Our Lady of Africa Catholic Church in Mbuya, Kampala.

“I am glad we have come here to support our comrade, Magambo. When I got the news, I called him, and he was a strong man... amidst all the deep pain and personal tragedy, he remained on duty serving the nation, and I think that is what they call a true cadre and patriot,” Tayebwa said.

He thanked Magambo’s supervisors and the Government for standing by him, but also personally for remembering that even in the midst of personal tragedy, there is a duty and you are committed fully.”

“I think for any parent, the most painful moment is burying your own child, but we pray for you,” he told the CID boss and his wife.

Rare breed

The Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, described Magambo, whom she fondly calls “my twin”, as a rare breed.

“This is really a day when even words feel very inadequate, but I thank God that I met Tom because he is one person who is so focused on his assignments. We normally chat every single day, so this particular day (when Muganzi died), just went without anything and at 9pm, I sent him a message saying ‘when my twin is quiet, I know everything is okay’” she said.

Then, Abodo said, Magambo just told her he had lost a son. “And it (the news of Muganzi’s death) just hit me so hard. I kept quiet, but he (Magambo) said, ‘That is life. God cares.’  And he went ahead to brief me about work, and we started talking about work,” she narrated.

The Lady Justice then told him, “Let’s not talk about work; you have lost a son, and he said, ‘Mzee (President Yoweri Museveni) gave me an assignment, and I have to do it. Tom, you are a rare person.”

Outgoing internal affairs minister Maj. Gen (rtd) Kahinda Otafiire implored the CID chief not to “hug your grief”.

“Let Timothy go; I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes. I feel for you; I feel your grief. I was in New York, I think about five or six days before he passed on. So, for you and your wife, I can understand what you are going through. It is a burning sensation, but relax and stop working, man.”

Otafiire emphasised that Magambo “must have time to cry”.

“Whatever happens, however strong you are, you need time to cry; otherwise, you will die of heart attack,” the minister told Magambo, whom he thanked for the good work.
Outgoing security minister Maj Gen (rtd) Jim Muhwezi told mourners he had come just to share with them the pain because Magambo started his security work at the Internal Security Organization (ISO).

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa described Muganzi’s death as “a tragedy of the nation” and prayed for his soul to rest in eternal peace. (Credit: Stuart Yiga)

“I know the history of ISO with myself, where I was for 10 years. That is where he shone and caught the eye of the President, who elevated him to the position of CID director. Like Gen David Muhoozi (state minister for internal affairs) has said, the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree,” he said.

He noted that Magambo left a mark on ISO. “It is a pity you have lost a son. It is very painful, but as Gen Otafiire said, that is life. We should accept the things we cannot change, and God’s ways are not our ways.

He must have planned it that Timothy should be sent off in this grandeur because the entire government is here to send off an 18-year-old person… So, there must be something in it, and I think you should accept that it was the right time for him to go. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”

Gen Muhoozi said as a parent, he could imagine and feel Magambo’s pain. “We live through and for our children. It is even more painful that he has left at the onset of his most active youthful life at 18, with great expectations for and from him ahead of his life,” he said of the deceased.

The state minister also noted that it is “indeed unfortunate” that what began as an innocent adventure to the beach ended in “this tragic loss of a boisterous life”.

He said, although he hadn’t got the full details of what exactly happened when Muganzi drowned, he still thought that the authorities where the incident happened could “do a lot better by putting in place anticipatory safety contingencies to mitigate such risks, especially where they are not remotely unforeseeable”.

“I did not get the privilege to know the kid personally, but I have known the dad for quite a while in our shared security circles and by the account of the tributes about Timothy, the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree. We treasure Magambo as one of our most illustrious security officers.”

‘Very dangerous week’

Magambo informed mourners that “this week has been very dangerous for me”.

“We also have political indiscipline. I want to report to my elders. There is a bit of indiscipline in politics. So, I happened to have got a task to do, and as I was doing it, my son also passed away. Now what do you do? Do you tell your troops to cry and run away? As a commander, you become a great, great son of Rwabudongo,” he said.

He hailed his deputy, the Senior Commissioner of Police Beata Chelimo, for holding the fort while he was away mourning.

“My deputy Chelimo took over the mantle while I was crying in my own private space, and I want to report to you that we delivered on the task of the President.”

Magambo also recalled that the day after his son died, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba called him around 6:00am to check on him about the operations they were doing.

“So, I brief him about how far we have gone and then later, I say, ‘Afande, I have lost my son.’ And he was like, why Magambo? What happened? So, we discuss a bit there, and then I go back to mourn. He is the one who told the President.”

He narrated that President Museveni called him after 30 minutes of talking to the CDF.

“Mzee (Museveni), like a father, he is all there asking those so many questions… and I want to apologise to Mzee [because] this was the first time I think I spoke to him in an unbothered way. He asked me after all those (questions), Magambo, what can I do? I said Mzee, I don’t know. But he promised he would support and take care of everything.”

“So, as I mourn with my family, I want to thank God that everything has been done to bring Timothy here in time… I am mourning in peace.”