Former Bunyoro Prime Minister dies

Hoima/Masindi

The Former Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Prime Minister, Eng Yabeezi Kiiza, has died.
The 78-year old retired civil Engineer succumbed to diabetes and high blood pressure on Sunday night at a clinic in Masindi town.
“He got breaking complications at about 11.30pm. He became restless until he died” Betty Kiiza, the widow told Daily Monitor on Monday.

She said the deceased has been battling heart complications and diabetes for over five years.
Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Prime minister Mr Norman Lukumu said the people of Bunyoro are saddened by the loss of an elder, a retired civil servant and a former Premier.

He said the Kingdom appreciates the services he rendered it in the various offices he held.

A requiem mass will be held for the deceased at St Mathews Church of Uganda in Masindi town.

Kiiza will on Wednesday be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Kitonozi village,Bwijanga subcounty in Masindi district.

Eng Kiiza was in March 2009 appointed as Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Prime minister by the Omukama of Bunyoro Dr Solomon Gafabusa Iguru 1.

Kiiza who was appointed Deputy Prime minister and Kingdom treasurer in 2007, was elevated to Premier, replacing Dr Emmanuel Aliba Kiiza.

While still Premier, Kiiza spearheaded the demand by the Kingdom to have all its restituted properties returned by the central Government.

He also advocated for Bunyoro’s affirmative action in education, infrastructure and political appointments. He argued that Bunyoro was disadvantaged by colonialism which he said retarded the region’s development.

Kiiza also agitated for Bunyoro’s share on oil royalties. He was at the helm of the Kingdom administration at a time oil firms enjoyed back to back oil discoveries in Bunyoro region. While citing health reasons, on January 5th, 2012, Kiiza tendered in his resignation to the Bunyoro King requesting to be relieved of his duties as Premier.

Eng Kiiza was the Bujenje county MP in the sixth parliament. He however failed to retain his seat when he sought re-election to join the seventh parliament. He lost the poll to Ms Kabakumba Masiko in elections he claimed were not free and fair.