Top economics lecturer Tayebwa dead

Economics guru Bernard Tayebwa on his Hospital bed last year. Photo by Juliet Kasirye 

KAMPALA - Former Makerere University Economics lecturer, Bernard Tayebwa Mugisha has died of kidney failure.

The 54-year-old author of the popular basic economics pamphlet for A-level, passed away at Mulago Hospital on Wednesday.

He has been suffering from diabetes and hypertension for about 15 years until he developed kidney failure.

The father of five was admitted at Mulago Hospital in ward 6B, under in-patient number 8002, where he was receiving dialysis under the care of nephrologists.

Tayebwa has been an outpatient, only going to hospital to undergo dialysis but with the on and off infections he had to be admitted.

"When I get infections, I vomit excessively and sometimes I have to be rushed here in an ambulance," Tayebwa told Saturday vision before he passed on.                                                                                                  

Speaking from his bed at Mulago National referral hospital ward 6B, the author of the popular Basic economics pamphlet for A-level told Saturday Vision that the ailment resulted from hypertension and diabetes from which he has suffered the last 15years.

Three months ago, his feet started swelling and tests revealed elevated levels of urea in his system because the kidneys were failing.

"I was put on dialysis and the doctors hoped that the kidneys would finally catch up in vain, now I need a transplant," Tayebwa narrated

Tayebwa was forced to quit work three months ago and barely had any savings left owing to the costly treatment, which has so far cost about sh15m.  His family was spending over sh500,000 weekly on dialysis. Dialysis is the artificial process of eliminating waste from the blood.

He used to undergo two sessions a week, each costing sh200,000, exclusive of medication of sh150,000 a week.

About Tayebwa

Bernard Tayebwa is the author of many publications including the popular A-Level economics textbook titled, "Basic Economics" which is used in East Africa and beyond.

Tayebwa taught Economics at Makerere University from 1988 to 2008 and worked as manager of Agribusiness Unit (ABU) at Uganda Cooperative Alliance. He is also one of the founders and chairperson of Kibatsi Development Association (KDA) a community-based organization.