The fallen veteran journalists and former Presidential Assistant Press Secretary Joseph Tamale Mirundi was a Saul-turned-Paul.
From a bitter critic of President Yoweri Museveni at Munno and Lipoota newspapers of the late 1980s, to early 90s, Tamale Mirundi was to become a diehard convert who paid back for great favour that Museveni extended to him.
In the early 1990s, I think it was early 1994, as Kony rebels racked havoc in Acholi and Lango sub-regions, Museveni said at a press conference that LRA ‘s Joseph Kony’s rebels would be finished by that year’s Christmas. Every journalist in the room laughed in disbelief. Tamale dared the President to a bet. They each staked Ug.Shs 2 million. Soon it was December and indeed Christmas came and passed. Kony had only become stronger.
Tamale called the then Hope Kivengere, the Press Secretary to the President to demand for his Ug.shs. 2 million. Museveni conceded defeat and agreed to pay. But he didn’t pay immediately.
The following year, the Press and Journalists Statute was passed. The new law set minimum standards for journalists at a university degree. Many practicing journalists rushed to Makerere University to take advantage and upgrade their qualifications.
Makerere had just introduced evening classes in journalism. Museveni reached out to Mirundi and proposed that instead of the Ug.Shs 2 million for the Kony bet, he could offer a State House scholarship for Mirundi to study Journalism at Makerere.
Mirundi didn’t waste the chance. He went for the course. And that’s where his transfiguration started. Museveni is a very clever and patient man. He had seen Mirundi’s potential and his education limitations.
At campus, Mirundi was very humble and excellent in Political Science in that first evening class of Mass Comm. He was with James Kigozi, Alice Emasu, Kelvin Kiyingi Kizito, late Sam Mukalazi, late Kenneth Matovu, late James Opoka(UTV), the late Samuel Bakoowa ( protocol officer, Foreign Affairs, died in plane crash with Col. Garanga), the late Christine Kaneza( died in KQ plane crash in Ivory Coast) and the late Rwanjeru Muhumuza(UTV) among many other gurus that had come from the PR world.
When he completed, Museveni brought him into his press team. He was now referring to himself as ‘ffe ba intellectual.’ He became an attack dog in the process of paying back for his school fees. He attacked many people even within State House teams .
In 2011 during Easter Service, late Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga gave a very critical political sermon attacking government over violence and alleged elections rigging. Government was very angry.
Insiders reportedly asked Mirundi to give an appropriate response. Mirundi abused the Archbishop like he wasn’t even Catholic himself. He wrote very dirty stuff. Lwanga called me to Lubaga for advice on how to deal with Mirundi. He was nearly in tears .
I told the Archbishop to let go and just pray for Mirundi. But I also told him to get a young lay person who is tech savvy to be his press secretary_to relate with the media in real time and also create allies in the mainstream legacy media.
I don’t know if Lwanga ever forgave Mirundi. But both are now gone.
I must say Mirundi was also very intelligent and an avid reader. He knew a lot of rare history. He was a great source to many radio stations. An independent thinker, he also rubbed many the wrong way.
The end wasn’t good. He sounded very bitter, regretful, hounded from most broadcast stations and only appearing on YouTube channels. He fought many battles with many people.
Mirundi remains a case study of journalistic transitions.
Rest in Peace.
More About Joseph Tamale Mirundi
According to his friends and colleagues in the journalism fraternity he was Parliamentary reporter in late eighties and also covered the KCC beat at the time when the late controversial lawyer Henry Kayondo S.C. brought a motion to rename South Street the Ben Kiwanuka street a motion which was supported by all councillors except RC lll Chairperson Baliddawa .
He also extensively covered the Commission of Inquiry into violation of human rights, the Odoki Commission , NRC, CA and was part of President Museveni ‘s campaign team.
He covered the Muslim wrangles of the mid- 90s and he was pro -Rajab Kakooza faction.
He was part of a government delegation that covered the Baganda convention in New Jersey. The delegation was led by former Prime Minister Mzee Kintu Musoke and included Omutaka Nadduli Kibaale, Rose Namayanja, Aisha Kabanda among others.
Born in 1964 in Kyotera, Buddu, Tamale Mirunid was appointed by President Museveni as his a Deputy Press Secretary, Acting Press Secretary and before his demise he has been serving as the Senior Presidential Advisor on Media .
He has been a leading member of PLU which close to Gen. Muhoozi Kaberugaba.
Tamale Mirundi was Uganda Journalists Association ( UJA) Secretary for Labour and Employment and automatically became UJU steering Committee Chairman. However, when he became an employer after founding Lipoota newspaper, he relinquished his position.
Tamale mirundi was the founding Chairman at Uganda Journalists Union (UJU.) By the time the Union was officially registered he had been replaced by Mr Michael Wakabi as Chairman.
