The Democratic Party (DP) is mourning its member and ex-party treasurer Al Hajji Issa Kikungwe who died on Sunday morning. Kikungwe, a former Member of Parliament for Kyadondo South passed on at Mengo Hospital after an unsuccessful brain surgery he underwent on Friday.
In a statement by the DP Party President Nobert Mao, he described Kikungwe as having been “a decisive and dependable man” and one who always stood for the right thing.
“I announce with deep sorrow the death of our colleague the DP National Treasurer The Hon. Al Hajji Issa Kikungwe which occurred today…. Our colleague did not regain consciousness after a surgery he underwent to remove a brain tumor which had recurred after a successful surgery a few years ago,” Nobert Mao said in the statement released Sunday morning.
The party has conveyed condolences to the bereaved family and mourned “a man who served his party and country with dedication, diligence and courage”.
“As National Treasurer, Hon. Kikungwe was at the forefront of vital reforms to establish a financial management system that ensures accountability and transparency,” the DP President added.
The Party remembered Kikungwe for his forefront role own promoting the project of building the DP party headquarters at Ben Kiwanuka House.
“Hon. Kikungwe was a decisive and dependable man. He was always committed to doing what he believed to be right. Even if you did not agree with him you knew where he stood on a particular issue,” the party statement added.
While serving as MP for Kyadondo South, the deceased is said by his party to have stood his ground to oppose the amendment of the constitution to repeal the Presidential term limits.
“In 2005, he was one of a few of us in the Legal Committee who presented a Minority Report opposing the removal of presidential term limits from the constitution.”
Mao further paid tribute to Kikungwe for using his position as chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Government Assurances “to highlight many of the government’s unfulfilled promises”.
“He was committed to community empowerment. The many community development projects he initiated in his constituency over the years attest to his outstanding commitment to uplifting the status of ordinary citizens.”
DP is already making arrangements to accord its party member a befitting funeral.