Ex-minister Kiwanuka’s son found dead in US

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Former finance minister Maria Kiwanuka, now presidential advisor on economy and finance, is mourning the death of her youngest son, Nsereko Kyamukungubya Kiwanuka, commonly known as ‘Kyamu’.

The deceased, who previously worked with dfcu Bank before relocating to the United States, was found dead on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at his rented apartment in Washington, DC. 

According to the family, a preliminary post-mortem examination indicates that he suffered a heart attack.

“He was living on his own in an apartment in Washington, DC, and since Monday was a public holiday in the US, he remained at home, but to our dismay, even the next day (Tuesday), he did not go to work, yet he was normal,” a family member said.

A family friend reportedly alerted the police, and when officers arrived, they found the door locked. They forced it open and discovered him unresponsive. The family further revealed that the television was still on in the background, tuned to his favourite sports channel.

At the time of his death, Nsereko had recently completed a Master’s degree in Business Administration at the University of Denver.

“He has been a finance advisor at a real estate company in the US. Due to his rare competence, instead of being on a six-month probation, he was confirmed in two months,” his family added.

“Imagine prior to his death, he had just been notified that he had passed his probation period in his new job in finance which he was very excited about,” the family added.

According to his uncle, Owek. Robert Wagwa Nsibirwa, who is also the second deputy Katikkiro of Buganda, preparations for the repatriation of his remains and burial arrangements are ongoing.

The tragedy comes barely a month after the family lost Rhoda Nakibuuka Nsibirwa Kalema, regarded as a pillar in the family, and Nnaalongo Margret Kiwana, Maria Kiwanuka’s mother.

dfcu legacy

Former colleagues at dfcu Bank described Nsereko as a highly competent professional who excelled in client relations. 

He was the pinnacle relations manager, overseeing a portfolio of high-net-worth clients worth about $10 million.

He was praised for providing robust financial recommendations, maintaining transparent communication on both local and international trading trends, and working effectively with his team and other stakeholders.

He is also remembered for introducing a client onboarding framework that incentivised high-volume transactions. This initiative, along with promotional campaigns highlighting “no transaction” cost, helped convert more than 150 cash-only traders into bank clients.

“This resulted in a 35% increase in revenue and a 50% increase in customer satisfaction. In brief, Nsereko was a passionate and self-driven professional who strived to deliver exceptional service and value to his clients,” his colleagues said.