NAMUTUMBA: Hajji Saleh Kumbuga, the Namutumba District LC5 Chairaman has succumbed to Covid-19, the Daily Express can confirm.
The deceased passed on Wednesday morning December 16th at Mulago National Referral Hospital where he had been admitted after testing positive for the deadly pandemic.
The sad news of his death was revealed by the district’s National Resistance Movement (NRM) chairman, Hajji Siraji Gusongweire.
“As we wait for the autopsy report, our chairperson was admitted in Mulago Hospital after testing positive for Covid-19,” Mr Gusongweire said.
Hajji Kumbuga was born in Bukaba village, Namutumba Town Council in Namutumba District about 70 years ago,. He first served as district councillor for Namutumba Town Council where he held the position for two consecutive terms before contesting for the LCV seat in 2016 which he succesfully won and has been serving to-date.
In 2019, Hajji Kumbuga announced that he would not seek re-election in 2021; however, such a proclamation didn’t mean he had exited the political arena.
Mid of this year in the NRM primaries, hajji Kumbuga contested for the elderly Member of Parliament (Eastern region) seat but lost terribly.
Most of his efforts have been geared towards improving the education sector and encouraging youths to be self-reliant and during his time in leadership, he lobbied for the completion of a multi-billion administration block.
Some of the residents Daily Monitor spoke to say he will be remembered for his efforts to create more administrative units and the Busiki North Constituency.
Mr Yusuf Dabadha, the male youth district councillor representing Namutumba district and aspiring Member of Parliament for Busiki constituency, said Mr Kumbuga will be remembered for his efforts to inspire youths to join leadership.
Mr Charles Mwanja, a former youth finance secretary for Namutumba district and friend to the deceased, said there will be a council sitting today in his honour, after which he will be laid to rest tomorrow (Thursday) at Bukaba village, North Ward in Namutumba Town Council.
According to Mr Mwanja, the deceased has not only helped the youths, but has been a link connecting civil servants and politicians in the district.
“Namutumba used to have internal bickering between civil servants and politicians but through his efforts, this came to an end,” Mr Mwanja said.
As of December 15, 2020 the Ministry of Health had registered 402 new cases of Covid-19 and one death. This pushes the cumulative number of cases to 28,168 and 225 deaths.
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