Former Guild President and outspoken government critic George Okurapa has passed away in Canada. He succumbed to cardiac arrest, as confirmed by his wife Edinah, according to Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa.
Tayebwa expressed his sadness over Okurapa’s untimely death, especially as Okurapa had been working towards reconciling the opposition in the diaspora with President Yoweri Museveni’s government.
“I am shocked to learn of the sudden death of George Okurapa, who passed away last night in Toronto, Canada. His wife Edinah informed me that he suffered a cardiac arrest after his daily routine at home and was pronounced dead a few hours later,” Tayebwa stated. “George had committed his energy to working with President Museveni to bring about reconciliation between the opposition diaspora and the government.
I am shocked to learn of the sudden death of @okurapa , who passed away last night in Toronto, Canada. I have been informed by his wife Edinah that he suffered a cardiac arrest after his daily work routine at home and was pronounced dead a few hours later. George had committed… pic.twitter.com/kjh5ZzPyWP
— Thomas Tayebwa (@Thomas_Tayebwa) January 11, 2025
It is sad that he has passed away before we could accomplish this project, but I’m sure his efforts won’t die in vain. My condolences to the family and the country at large.”
Veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda paid tribute to Okurapa, describing him as “a dynamic intellectual with a big heart.”
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of George Okurapa, a man of many parts. I first met George in July 1997 at the home of President Milton Obote in Lusaka, Zambia, and we became instant friends. A dynamic intellectual with a big heart, George hosted me at his home for a week during my first visit to Toronto, Canada, in July 1998,” Mwenda noted.
I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of George Okurapa, a man of many parts. I first met George in July 1997 at the home of President Milton Obote in Lusaka, Zambia, and we became instant friends. A dynamic intellectual with a big heart, George hosted me at his home for a… pic.twitter.com/a4rmF8TfB9
— Andrew M. Mwenda (@AndrewMwenda) January 11, 2025
“We kept in regular touch all these years until his sudden death from cardiac arrest yesterday. He embodied the best qualities of humility with grace; very difficult to anger and very easy to get along with. May his soul rest in peace.”
