Celebrations in Mukono District turned into mourning after a newly sworn-in National Resistance Movement (NRM) councillor died just hours after taking office.
Henry Kittata Naggwano, who had been elected to represent Katente Village in Nakisunga Sub-county, passed away on the same day he officially assumed his duties as a councillor, leaving colleagues, supporters and family members stunned.
Reports indicate that Kittata was already battling illness when he arrived for the swearing-in ceremony. His condition was said to be so weak that he remained seated inside a vehicle as the oath-taking exercise was conducted.
Despite his health challenges, the councillor completed the swearing-in process and formally joined the new council. However, shortly afterwards, his condition reportedly worsened.
Concerned colleagues and relatives rushed him to Herona Hospital for medical attention, but efforts to save his life were unsuccessful. He was later pronounced dead.
The unexpected death cut short what many supporters had viewed as the beginning of a promising political chapter. Kittata had recently won the confidence of voters and was reportedly among individuals interested in contesting for the position of speaker within the sub-county council.
Residents described the development as heartbreaking, noting that the district had gathered to witness the installation of new leaders only for the occasion to end in tragedy.
The incident also sparked widespread discussion within the community, with some residents questioning what could have caused such a sudden deterioration in the councillor’s health.
Authorities subsequently became involved, and the body was transferred to Mulago Hospital Mortuary to facilitate a postmortem examination. Investigations are expected to establish the exact circumstances surrounding his death.
District leaders paid tribute to Kittata as a dedicated public servant whose tenure ended before it had truly begun, while community members remembered him as a leader eager to serve his constituents.
His death has added to concerns among residents following the recent loss of another local leader in the district, deepening a sense of grief within the community.
In related news, a Mbarara university student collapsed and died while preparing for exams, while a man was killed during the sharing of meat donated by an MP, as reported Here and There.
