Parliament to pay tribute to fallen minister

By Mary Karugaba    

Parliament will hold a special sitting on Wednesday to pay tribute to the fallen industry state minister Dr. James Mutende.

Mutende, the husband of the former East African Assembly legislator Lydia Wanyoto died on Saturday at his home in Makindye.

According to a postmortem report issued by Government on Sunday, Mutende died of “natural causes.”

“We have already notified members that Parliament will hold a special sitting on Wednesday to pay tribute to the fallen minister,” Clerk to Parliament Jane Kibirige said.

According to Kibirige, the body will be brought to Parliament and lie in State for viewing by Members of Parliament and public after which a special sitting will be held at 2.00p.m. in his honour.

A renowned a Ugandan veterinarian, economist, academic and politician, the late Dr. Mutende was appointed state minister for industry on May 27, 2011 replacing Father Simon Lokodo, who was appointed state minister for Ethics & Integrity in the Office of the President.

Mutende obtained a PhD in economics from New School University in New York City in 2005, making him one of the most highly educated ministers in Cabinet.

Mutende was an ex officio Member of Parliament given that he was appointed to cabinet without going through elections. Before his death, he had been nominated as NRM flag bearer for Mbale Municipality.

According to the program for the funeral arrangement issued yesterday by the coordinator of the burial arrangements Eng. Iren Muloni, there will be a family vigil at his residence in Lukuli-Kizungu Zone, Makindye division today (Monday).

There will be a funeral service at All Saints Cathedral Nakasero on Tuesday at 10:00am. On Wednesday, Parliament will hold a special sitting to pay tribute to the minister after which the body will be taken to Mbale, St. Andrews Cathedral for overnight prayers.

On Thursday at 10:00 am, there will be ecumenical funeral service led by Mbale Diocese at Cricket grounds where the district council will also pass a resolution to pay tribute the fallen minister.

After the tribute, Mutende’s body will be taken to his residence at Nkokonjeru Terrace for night vigil. On Friday morning; the body will be transferred to his ancestral home in Mafudu, Bukhulo, Sironko district for a  vigil.

He will be laid to rest on Saturday at his ancestral home in Mafudu.

 Mutende was born in Mbale, on February 26 1962. After primary education in his home town, he joined Busoga College Mwiri, for his O’ and ‘A’Level before joining Makerere University to study veterinary medicine.

He graduated in 1988 with the degree of Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine. In 1999, he was awarded the degree of Master of Business Administration, also by Makerere University.