The former Under Secretary at the Uganda Lands Commission, Mr. Jethro Albert Mugumya, 68, has succumbed to Covid-19, the Daily Express has learnt.
According to sources close to the family, Mugumya, who also served in the Ministry of Health and ICT contracted the Covid-19 related illness two weeks ago which he has battled till Tuesday morning when he met his death. Other sources however refuted coronavirus illness and asserted that the deceased had underlying health conditions including diabetes and hypertension. His blood sugar reportedly became unstable and on Sunday mid-afternoon, his condition worsened. He breathed his last yesterday as he was being rushed to hospital.
In the last 10 years, the effects of the disease had immobilized him in many ways and sometimes he would not work. At one point when he had to appear before the Bamugeriere Land Commission, the commission ensured there was a doctor present during his hearing.
Hailing from Nyaburiza Ruhaama, Ntungamo District, Jethro attended school in Ntare School and after his master’s studies, he joined the civil service where he worked to the time when he retired about a year and a half ago. He notably was the Under Secretary at the Ministry of Health in the early and mid-2000s when Hon Jim Muhwezi was Health Minister as well as Mike Mukula. He was one of those who were exonerated of wrongdoing in the Gavi fund scandals.
He later moved to the Ministry of ICT when it was formed and served as Under Secretary under Minister of ICT Hon Aggrey Awori. Finally, he moved to the Uganda Land Commission where he worked till he retired. He is survived by a wife and 3 children- 2 girls and a boy. His wife Charity Balaba Mugumya is a director in Bank of Uganda.
