Museveni Mother Is Dead

President Yoweri Museveni’s mother, 84-year-old Esiteeri Kokundeka (above), died in Kampala yesterday, reports Anne Mugisa. She died of heart failure at 1:40pm at the Kampala International Hospital where she was admitted last Thursday with pneumonia and evidence of a stroke. She was rushed to Kampala from Mbarara on Thursday in a critical condition. She was first admitted at the Mbarara University teaching hospital on Wednesday night. All the family members including the daughter Violet Kajubiri, who lives in Germany, visited her at the hospital. Kokundeka is survived by a husband, Amos Kaguta, three children including Museveni, Kajubiri and Lt Gen Caleb Akandwanaho, commonly known as Salim Saleh, and grand children. Burial will take place at the family home of the President in Rwakitura, Mbarara, at 2:00pm tomorrow after a funeral service at Nshweere Church at 11:00am, a statement from the State House said late last evening. Museveni said of his mother in his book, Sowing the Mustard Seed, that she came from the Beene-Rukaari branch of the aristocratic Bashambo clan. He said she embraced Christianity and had become a devout born-again Christian. A condolence book will be opened at the State House today. The statement said the signing of the condolence book will start at 10:00am at the Lounge of the Administration Block. The statement signed by Museveni’s principal private secretary Hilda Musubira, said, “There will be a church service at Nshweere Church of Uganda for the late because the Christians of that Church have always been her brothers and sisters since 1947 when she converted to Christianity.” Musubira said friends and relatives who cannot make to Rwakitura were welcome to sign the condolence book at the State House. The statement said Lt Gen Salim Saleh will be at the State House to receive the mourners. Ends