Bugiri mourns Mukisa

Dec 30, 2019

The NRM chairman Bugiri, Stephen Mutumba, said the deceased served the ruling NRM party even after losing his position as Member of Parliament and state minister fisheries.

MUKISA              DEATH          CANCER

Residents of Bugiri are mourning the passing on of former state minister for fisheries Fred Mukisa who succumbed to cancer yesterday December 29 at his home in Kyaliwajala Kampala.

Mukisa had battled a long illness of cancer and had earlier been announced dead on social media a few months back after he became unconscious.

The mayor Bugiri municipal council Luba Bumali described the deceased as a dedicated and honest leader who served in various political positions without discrimination.

"The deceased was a person who could handle you without segregating someone from which party he or she belongs to," he said

Bumali said his death is a big blow to the district and the nation since he had resorted to setting up business projects after retiring from politics. The projects have helped provide jobs to youth and women in the district and neighboring areas.

The speaker Bugiri municipal council, Shadrack Ngiya, said the council should name one of the streets in memory of the deceased for the excellent work he had done for the district and nation at large.

Ngiya said he was inspired to join politics following the excellent performance of the deceased while still serving as Member of Parliament for Bukooli Central and state minister for fisheries.

"I just liked the way he could stand in Parliament to denounce illegal fishing habits on Lake Victoria and I just admired every bit of it," he said.

He said the deceased will be remembered as being one of the honest politicians the district has ever had for always sticking to his words.

"The deceased was a principled person who always stuck to his words unlike others who change when they feel things are turning against them, " he said.

John Tazikuba a tenant on one of the houses belonging to the deceased at Jobless corner Bugiri municipality described the deceased as a kind, honest and person who loved development.

The NRM chairman Bugiri, Stephen Mutumba, said the deceased served the ruling NRM party even after losing his position as Member of Parliament and state minister fisheries.

The NRM secretary general Kasule Lumumba said the party had lost a dedicated strong cadre who fought hard to ensure the party becomes victorious at all positions.

"I knew Fred as a person who wanted the ruling party to be at the top of everything in this country," she said.

Lumumba said the deceased who served as a member of the central executive committee for the ruling NRM party for a long time always deliberated freely at meetings without fear or favour.

The Member of Parliament Bugiri municipality, Asuman Basalirwa, said he could always consult the deceased on issues of politics and proved helpful.

Basalirwa said the advice the deceased offered helped him become patient for the three previous attempts to become the winner of the Bugiri municipality elections in 2018.

"I could always consult him whenever I lost the elections and he always advised me to continue with the struggle," he said.

Frances Birungi, the daughter to the deceased, said a requiem mass is to be held today at All Saints' Cathedral Nakasero and burial is expected tomorrow at his home in Butema village Buluguyi sub-county.

The deceased, 70, years served as state minister for fisheries from 1998 till 2001 and was later appointed to serve in the same position in 2001 till 2006 before former state minister Ruth Nankabirwa took over the same position.

Mukisa a holder of a bachelor's degree in economics specializing in the rural economy also served as an accountant for the Kakira sugar works limited from 1979 -1981, an examiner with the East African Examination Council from 1976-1984, worked as NRM political mobilizer for the eastern region from 1986 to 1987.

The deceased also served as resident district commissioner for eastern Uganda from 1987 till 1991 before being appointed deputy director NRM secretariat from 1994 to 1998.

The deceased is survived by a widow Solome Mukisa and children.

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