Former YMCA director passes on

Dr Joseph Robert Jjumba, the former national executive director of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) Comprehensive Institute has passed on.

Jjumba, 63, who passed away in Lisbon, Portugal on Wednesday last week, joined YMCA in 1994 and became the institute's director in the same year.

Speaking at a press briefing at the YMCA offices in Wandegeya, Dr Herbert Mukasa, the institute's principal said he had travelled with the late on official duty to Lisbon, Portugal.

"This was very tragic for me because he was not ill. He passed away within a short period of time on the morning of 24^th July," Mukasa said, adding that Jjumba has been a very instrumental chairman of the institute's governing council.

Dr James Nkata, the institute's chairman, national executive committee, said Jjumba resuscitated Uganda YMCA at the time it nearly collapsed.

He said the late, steered Uganda YMCA from a donor-dependent institution in 1994 to a fast-growing, self-sustaining organisation capable of skilling over 5,000 job creators annually and has left it at the level of Other Degree Awarding Institute.

"His quest for excellence, accountability, transparency and humility made him the best manager Uganda YMCA has ever had in its existence," Nkata said.

"He pumped new life and vigour into it as he sustained its purpose and meaning, leading it to make greater strides and milestones that have made us the leading YMCA movement in Africa today," he added.

Nkata said Jjumba shall be vividly remembered for his contribution to the development of the institute, his prowess in managing strategic plans and the passion he had for the development of constitutionalism and the fear of God.

Explaining the delay of the arrival of the deceased's body, Mike Sebalu, a member of the institute's National Executive Committee said colleagues who travelled with him had to mobilise resources within themselves to ensure they covered the required costs.

He said although Jjumba had both travel and medical insurance, making claims at the time was not possible saying the process could take up to a month.

"Getting his body was a very costly undertaking and that is why we had to make this announcement after being sure of when his body would arrive in the country," Sebalu said.

He said Jjumba's visionary leadership, demonstrated by his character, commitment, courage, consistency made him stand out as a progressive and developmental pillar of Uganda YMCA.

The body of the deceased will be taken to YMCA Wandegeya for viewing on Thursday and a funeral service will be held in his honour at Namirembe Cathedral on the same day at 2.00pm.

He will be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Kyengera, along Masaka road on August 3, 2019, at 1 pm.

Biography

Jjumba was a teacher by profession. He obtained a Master's degree in Management Science in Human Resource Management at Ugandan Management Institute, A Master's degree in Education Management and Planning of Education at Makerere University and a PhD in Public Administration in Nelson Mandela University in South Africa.

He also taught at Trinity College Nabbingo and was appointed headteacher Kiwawu SSS.