news 16 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Tamale Mirundi's Family Recalls Unfulfilled Government Pledges Two Years Post-Demise
Two years after the passing of veteran journalist and former presidential press secretary Joseph Tamale Mirundi, his family expresses disappointment over unfulfilled government promises of support and recognition. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/tamale-mirundi-had-a-miserable-death-family-says-two-years-on-5560066
Two years have passed since the death of Joseph Tamale Mirundi, a prominent journalist and former press secretary to President Museveni, yet his family feels forgotten.
During a memorial gathering on August 15, 2026, in Kyotera District, Mirundi’s elder brother, John Ssali Ssembuya, highlighted the unmet expectations of government support that were seemingly promised at his burial in August 2024. Mirundi passed away at 60 due to liver and lung complications.
“I wonder how a person of Tamale’s calibre, and the way he defended this government, can die and we reach this point without seeing the promises made being fulfilled. My brother died a miserable death,” Mr. Ssali stated, referencing the presence of high-ranking government officials at the funeral.
The family reported meeting with then-Third Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga, who had conveyed that President Museveni had directed her to document their concerns. However, since that meeting, the family has received no further communication.
Despite the lack of follow-up, Mirundi’s son, Joseph Mirundi, who is a lawyer, remains hopeful that the government processes will eventually yield results, acknowledging that such procedures can take time.
Assistant Resident District Commissioner for Kyotera, George Mawejje Ssengooba, offered a government perspective, explaining that individuals in the President’s Office are eligible for gratuity but not pension benefits. He clarified that while the government could appreciate Mirundi’s contributions, this did not automatically entail pension entitlements.
Mirundi served as President Museveni’s press secretary from 2001 until 2015 and remained a vocal political commentator and government supporter until his death. The memorial also served as a moment to remember him as a supportive father and brother who cared for a large extended family.