Engineer Zikusooka with Charles Biroli a member of the Friends of Mwiri in the UK.
Rev.Canon Eng. James Mbuzi. N Zikusooka passed away on the 30.Jan.2012 at Nakasero hospital. He was the first Ugandan Engineer in 1970 and also one of the founder members for the Engineers Registration Board of Uganda.
He was the Minister of Works, Housing and Communications in 1971-1973, High Commissioner for Uganda, United Kingdom in 1979-1980 among others. In September 2011, he was awarded the Platinum, Golden Award, Busoga College Mwiri Old Boy's Association.
During the requiem mass at All Saints Cathedral in Nakasero, a number of high ranking officials were present ranging from the Governor, Bank of Uganda, Prof. Emmanuel Mutebile, Former Chief Justice Waako Wambuzi, Ministers Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda (ICT), Maria Kiwanuka(Finance), Daudi Migereko(Lands) and Works Minister Abraham Byandala among others.
Others present were The Katikiro of Buganda Eng.JB Walusimbi, former Minister Richard Kaijuka who is also an in-law, former Ethics Minister Maria Matembe, former Secretary General of the EAC, Hon. Amanya Mushega, Mike Mukula, Kakooza Mutale, Kirunda Kivenjinja and former Inspector General of Government Faith Mwondha. The service lasted for at least three hours due to the outstanding person he was.
Engineer Zikusooka was even talked about by the current US President Obama during the campaigns. "There is a young man on my campaign whose grandfather lives in Uganda. He is 81 years old and has never experienced true democracy in his lifetime.
During the reign of Idi Amin, he was literally hunted and the only reason he escaped was thanks to the kindness of others and a few good-sized trunks. And on the night of the Iowa caucuses, that 81-year-old man stayed up until five in the morning, huddled by his television, waiting for the results. The world is watching what we do here."
There will be another service in Bugembe Cathedral in Jinja today where he was installed as Dean of Christ, a non stipendiary Priest. He will be buried on 3 February, 2012 at Namungaalwe in Iganga District.
