Kampala (UG) – President Museveni’s former presidential press secretary and media advisor, Joseph Tamale Mirundi, has died. He was 60 years old.
Known for his controversial political debates on TV and radio, Mirundi was pronounced dead on Tuesday evening at around 11:40 p.m. “He had been in the hospital for over a month and had even started showing signs of improvement. On Sunday and Monday, he seemed okay. The doctors said he had fluid in his lungs, which they were draining. However, today his condition deteriorated, and when they tried to drain the fluid, it was blood,” said one of his sons in a phone conversation.
The outspoken political analyst and NRM strongman had recently aligned himself with the Patriotic League of Uganda civic group, led by First Son Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, where he served as the Deputy Spokesperson for the Buganda Region.
Earlier this year, Mirundi was diagnosed with conditions related to low blood pressure and kidney disease and had been frequently hospitalized until his untimely passing. He had recently revealed that he survived death several times after being poisoned five times.
“Doctors had predicted that I would die in three years, but thanks to treatment and my cultural ancestors, a recent check-up by American medical personnel revealed that my organs are intact and in good condition,” Tamale Mirundi said in a recent interview before his hospitalization earlier this year.
Born in 1964 in present-day Rakai District, Mirundi began his career as a part-time writer for the newspaper Munno before becoming a professional journalist. He worked as a presidential press secretary and media advisor and was a member of the National Resistance Movement. He was a familiar face on Ugandan television, appearing on various political shows, including “Sharp Talk” on STV Uganda, “One on One” on NBS Television, and “Embuga” on STV Uganda.
In 2022, Mirundi founded the online newspaper Kab News, where he published news and information. His career was not without controversy, including a suspension from the “One on One” show in 2017 for using abusive language, a defamation suit filed by lawyer Mabirizi, and political disagreements that led his first wife, Juliet Nassimbwa, to seek a divorce in 2015. Mirundi also claimed he was poisoned in 2019.
Despite these challenges, Mirundi was rewarded by President Yoweri Museveni with a new car for his media work. He was known for his sharp analysis and fearless commentary, predicting the downfall of Eric Sakwa and believing that the People Power, Our Power party under Bobi Wine would gain more seats in the 2021 elections.
Mirundi is survived by his parents, Molly Namatovu and Yowana Mirundi. The family has stated that funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.
Source: Daily Express
