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The Government says it will grant official burials to former king of Bugisu Wilson Wamimbi and former minister Martin Aliker.

Miria Babalanda, the Minister of the Presidency, confirmed the development Monday, April 25, 2024, in her post on X, formerly Twitter: "His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda, Gen (Rtd) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has granted an official burial to the following recently deceased eminent persons. 1. Former Umukuka of Bamasaba Wilson Wamimbi and 2. Former minister, Hon. Martin Aliker".

"We extend sympathies to bereaved communities and families and pray for the souls of the deceased loved ones to rest in eternal peace!"

Aliker

Aliker passed on on Monday at the age of 95.

A renowned dental surgeon and distinguished businessman, Aliker also served on the boards of many companies, including Coca-Cola, Uganda Breweries, Stanbic Bank and Standard Chartered Bank.

Born in Gulu District in 1925, Aliker was an alumnus of Kings College Budo and Makerere University.

He qualified as a doctor of dental surgery (DDS) from US' Northwestern University, Chicago, in 1959.

He was an influential Ugandan Business Leader and Investor, holding directorships with a variety of companies including Uganda Breweries Limited (1961-2001); Cooper Motor Corporation (1962-72, 2000-06); Longman Publishing, Uganda (1965-87); Phoenix Assurance Company of East Africa (1969-93); Coca-Cola Africa Region (1991- 2004); Nation Media Group, 2001-11; Heritage Oil, Uganda (2003-10); and many others.

Wamimbi

On the other hand, Wamimbi who died on Friday after a long illness at Kiruddu Hospital, was elected to the position of Umukhuka in August 2010, beating his only opponent, Canon Codovia Wakiro, by 41 votes to 22 for a five-year non-renewable term.

The elections come after Joseph Kanyanya had over the years imposed himself as Umukhuka.

He had at one time attempted to place his throne at Mutoto (the seat of Bamasaba cultural activities) but the Bamasaaba, who had never had a royal family opposed the move.

By the time of Wamimbi's election as Umukhuka, the Bamasaba had last had a cultural institution in the 1960s when Y. B. Mungoma was made the Umuinga (equivalent of Umukhuka) until Obote abolished kingdoms.