The family of Dr Kiddu Makubuya, a former attorney general and minister in a number of dockets in President Yoweri Museveni’s government, has spoken out on reports that he had died.
Born in 1949 in Luweero District, Dr Makubuya is 73. He is said to be admitted at Nakasero Hospital in the capital Kampala.
A politician and legal practitioner, Makubuya is a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Katikamu South Constituency.
In Museveni’s government, Makubuya held the positions of Minister of State in charge of Luwero Triangle, State Minister for Foreign Affairs in charge of International Cooperation, Minister of Education and Sports, Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Attorney General, and Minister of General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister.
In February 2012, Makubuya resigned from cabinet over a scandal on the dubious compensation of over Shs150bn to city tycoon Hassan Basajjabalaba and Col John Mugyenyi. The resignation came after weeks of calls for Makubuya and minister Syda Bbumba to exit cabinet.
Although dogged by a scandal that saw him exit cabinet on a bad note, Makubuya was a well educated man, fitting the label of scholar.
He held a Bachelor of Laws degree from Makerere University and a Master of Laws degree from the University of London and a PhD. in Law from the University of Edinburgh.
His other most notable act was his attempts to block Dr Kizza Besigye’s nomination in 2005.
As news of Makubuya’s death started spreading like wildfire on social media, his daughter Rebecca Nabagala has been quoted as saying her father was still ‘alive.’
Another family member has been quoted as saying that Makubuya was “fighting for his life,” and urging Ugandans to “ignore rumors” and “pray for Makubuya.”
