Ugandan flags to fly at half-mast in honor of President Mkapa

Jul 25, 2020

DEATH|MKAPA|EAST AFRICA
President Yoweri Museveni has directed that all Ugandan and East African Community flags be flown at half in honor of former Tanzania's President William Benjamin Mkapa. 

Mkapa who served as Tanzanian President from 1995 to 2005, died on Friday morning according to President John Pombe Magufuli. 

Museveni described the late as a peace builder, pan Africanist and an illustrious citizen of East Africa. 

It is against this background that he directed that in memory of the late Mzee Mkapa and in mourning his untimely death, the flag of the Republic of Uganda and that of East African Community be flown at half-mast throughout Uganda and at all Uganda embassies and consular offices abroad for three days beginning Saturday. 


The flags to be flown at half-mast according to Museveni is, "An expression of the solidarity and in recognition and appreciation of Mkapa for his invaluable contribution to the fostering and consolidating of the bilateral relations between Uganda and Tanzania, to the peace and unity of East Africans and as a mark of respect for his memory." 

This was contained in a statement read by the Minister for Presidency, Esther Mbayo at the Uganda Media Centre on Saturday. 

Mkapa was Tanzania's third President after Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Ali Hassan Mwinyi.  

He will be remembered for his contribution to peace, stability and security within the East African region.

 Mkapa

He was born in 1938 in Ndanda near Masasi in southern Tanzania. He studied at Makerere University, graduating with a degree in English in 1962. He also attended Columbia University in 1963 and was awarded a master's degree in international affairs.  

He served as an administrative officer in Dodoma and later as Minister for science, technology and higher education. Mkapa was elected as President of Tanzania in a campaign where former President and independence hero Nyerere backed him.  

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