Biography: Who is Joseph Tamale Mirundi

Joseph Tamale Mirundi, presidential advisor on media matters and former presidential press secretary, passed away on Tuesday night.

Reports indicate that Mirundi, aged 59, succumbed to lung-related complications at around 11:40 P.M. at Kisubi Hospital in Kampala, where he had been receiving treatment for over a month.

The reports, based on information from immediate family members, suggest that while his condition had improved on Sunday and Monday, it deteriorated sharply on Tuesday.

According to doctors, Joseph Tamale Mirundi had been suffering from fluid accumulation in his lungs, which they had been draining. However, when they attempted the procedure on Tuesday, blood was extracted instead of fluid, leading to further complications.

Mirundi served as the presidential press secretary until July 2015, when he was dismissed by President Yoweri Museveni. He had held the position for approximately 13 years. In 2019, Mirundi disclosed that he had been poisoned, though it remains unclear if he fully recovered from the incident.

Born in 1964 in Rakai District, Joseph Tamale Mirundi was a journalist, author, and political analyst, renowned for his sharp commentary across various media platforms. Throughout his career, he contributed to numerous outlets, including Radio 4, NBS TV, Top Radio, Beat FM, ABS TV, Impact FM, STV Uganda, Pearl FM, and Metro FM.

Mirundi, the son of Molly Namatovu and Yowana Mirundi, attended Lubiri Secondary School. He held a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and a Master’s degree in Communication.