FORMER UGANDAN ENVOY TO RWANDA SUCCUMBS TO COVID-19

By Aggrey Twesigye
In Mbarara

The retired ambassador of Uganda to Rwanda HE Ignatius Kategirwe has breathed his last at Mbarara Referral Hospital, highly placed sources have confirmed.

Mr. Kategirwe who served as the Rwandan ambassador at the height of genocide in 1994 is said to have been receiving treatment from Medicare Diagnostic Center for the past week.

Sources further reveal that when the health of 93-year-old retiree got out of hand, he was rushed to Mbarara Referral Hospital.

Halson Kagure, the Mbarara Referral Hospital Public Relations Officer confirmed that the deceased was brought in yesterday adding that a team of specialists has been doing their best to save him.

Although PRO Kagure declined to divulge into what could have killed the former ambassador under the pretext that the hypocritical oath deters them to disclose the illness of their patients without consent, undisputable sources from where he was admitted, confirmed that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

We have also established that Isingiro District COVID-19 task force has also been informed to ensure that social distancing and other COVID-19 measures are observed during the burial.

The Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital officials which included the Unit In-Charge, doctors and the hospital spokesperson held closed door meeting with the relatives to the deceased.

In the meeting, they were briefed on how the deceased was referred with high blood pressure and organ failure that made it difficult for health workers to save him.

The relatives thanked the hospital management for the care and support shown to the late envoy.

When asked about his past medical records, the hospital PRO Halson Kagure referred us to the relatives of the deceased.

One of the doctors who has been closely monitoring the situation said that pre-existing conditions of the deceased could have worsened the situation before he could have referred us to Dr Francis Oriokot the hospital deputy director who declined to pick up the phone calls.

Attempts to speak to relatives were futile as they were still moving up and down with the arrangements.

Closest source reveal to us that the former ambassador will be buried on Thursday 29th June at his ancestral home in Isingiro district while observing COVID-19 procedures.