Controversial and outspoken Senior Presidential Advisor on Media and Public Relations, John Nagenda who once compared his English to that of the legendry English Playwright William Shakespeare has died in a Kampala hospital.
Neganda, a bush war veteran who practiced journalism and and played in a one day cricket international game for East Africa during the 1975 World Cup died on Saturday afternoon at Medipal International Hospital where he was taken ill and has been undergoing treatment for weeks, according to sources in the presidency.
Nagenda is remembered for his convert -diplomatic operations during the Luwero Bush war which resulted in the NRA/NRM capturing power in early 1986. He escorted the Kabaka of Buganda Ronal M. Mutebi who was a young crown prince in the mid -80s to the war zone to meet the NRA commander and leader Yoweri Museveni – a move that saw the NRA win over hearts and huge support in Luwero and Buagnda region where the five year liberation war was largely fought .
When Ugandans decided to go back to multiparty politics during the 1996 general elections were Museveni contested against his rival and former Internal Minister the late Paul Kawanga Ssemwogerere and won with a landslide , Nagenda was at it again-this time leading a media campaign in the New Vision -which repeatedly published grisly pictures about Idi Amin’s brutal regime to remind Ugandans about their bloody history and vote for Museveni who led the revolution to establish peace , security and stability .
“He had been admitted to hospital for three months,” State House sources said . Minister in Charge of the Presidency, Milly Babalanda said Nagenda was unique, principled and knowledgeable.
“I regret to announce the passing on of Senior Presidential Advisor on Media Matters, Mzee John Nagenda, who has passed on at Medipal in Kampala. He was unique, principled and knowledgeable. His services will be dearly missed,” Babalanda stated on her official twitter handle .
He attended Namutamba Primary School, King’s college Budo and Kigezi High School before joining Makerere University for a degree in English.
John Mwesigwa Robin Nagenda was born on April 25, 1938 in Rwanda and lived in England for many years before returning to Uganda after the Luwero bush war. He has been a writer and newspaper columnist since the 1960s.
