Minister Mallinga burial pushed to Thursday

By Taddeo Bwambale

KAMPALA - The burial of former minister for disaster preparedness, management and refugees, Dr Stephen Mallinga has been moved to Thursday.

This is a shift from an earlier communicated burial day of Wednesday in a tentative programme issued by the information ministry.

According to a new burial programme released by the Government on Saturday, there will be a requiem mass at All Saints Church at 10:00am on Monday.

At 4:00pm, the body will then be taken to his home in Kitintale, a Kampala suburb for a night vigil, according to the information and national guidance minister, Mary Karooro Okurut.

On Tuesday, the body will lie in state at Parliament for public viewing, after which Members of Parliament will pay their last respects and tributes between 2:00pm and 5:00pm.

The remains of the fallen minister will then be transported to his ancestral home in Butebo, Pallisa district on the same day.

On Wednesday, the Pallisa District Council will hold a special seating in which district authorities and residents will pay tribute to the deceased.

Thursday morning at 10:00am, a service will be held, followed by a state burial at 2:00pm when the body will be laid to rest.

Mallinga passed away on Thursday night while being transported to Butebo Health Centre IV after feeling unwell.

Exact cause of his death remains unclear though relatives have hinted that the late Mallinga battled hypertension for a long time.