Tamale Mirundi Passes Away After Lung Complications at Age 60
Joseph Tamale Mirundi, a well-known political commentator and former presidential press secretary, has passed away. He died on August 13, 2024, at around 11:40 pm at Kisubi Hospital in Kampala, following complications related to lung issues, according to family sources.
Mirundi had been hospitalized for over a month. Despite signs of improvement in recent days, his condition worsened unexpectedly. On Sunday and Monday, he appeared to be recovering, but his health deteriorated rapidly. A family member reported that the doctors had been draining fluid from his lungs, but when they attempted to remove more fluid on Tuesday, it turned out to be blood, leading to his death.
Mirundi, who was dismissed by President Museveni from his role as press secretary in July 2015 after serving in the position for about 13 years, continued to be a prominent figure in political commentary. After his dismissal, he regularly appeared on television and online platforms to discuss politics and current affairs.
Born in 1964 in Matale Village, Rakai District, to Molly Namatovu and Yowana Mirundi, Tamale Mirundi attended Rubaga Senior Secondary School before pursuing higher education at Makerere University. He began his career in journalism early, writing for Munno newspaper while still a student.
Mirundi was appointed as President Museveni’s spokesperson in 2003. Known for his forthright defense of the President, he earned a reputation for being outspoken and polarizing, gaining both supporters and critics. He was born as the ninth child in his family and moved to Kampala in 1979 for his secondary education.
In 1981, while still in senior three, Mirundi began writing for Munno. He graduated with a degree in Mass Communication from Makerere University. In 1998, he ventured into publishing, starting two newspapers, The Voice and Lipoota, but they did not succeed.
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