Ruhaama MP William Zinkuratire Dies After Battling Long Illness

Ruhaama county Member of Parliament, Beijukye William Zinkuratire has died after spending a long period in hospital. The ex-legislator passed on Friday night at Nsambya hospital where he had been admitted over complications following a long illness.

A close family member who preferred anonymity revealed to SoftPower News that Zinkuratire began to experience complications shortly after he was sworn in to office as MP in the 10th Parliament in May last year. He was serving his first term in Parliament after taking over from former Ruhaama MP, First Lady Janet Museveni.

Zinkuratire had emerged winner from a hotly contested NRM primary election with 16 candidates following an announcement by the First Lady Janet Museveni that she was not going to contest for the position of MP in 2016.

The deceased beat 3 other opponents in the February 2016 general elections.

The close relative that spoke to this website claimed there was suspicion that Zinkuratire was poisoned immediately after being sworn in and was flown to India two days later. ”

“Although media reports quickly speculated that the ailment was due to Hepatitis B, we the family insist that wasn’t true.”

“He went to India for treatment. They treated his liver. It had been reported that it was Hepatitis B but that is not the truth of the matter” the source revealed.

“He went there [India] for the second, third and fourth time until doctors told him to go, rest and wait for his death,” the deceased’s relative added.

Most recently, the MP was referred to Kampala Medical Chambers where he was on life support. He was rushed to Nsambya Hospital for further treatment where he lost his life at 10pm on Friday.

SoftPower understands that the deceased only went to Parliament a few times since he was elected, but in a bad shape.

Our source who visited the MP while he was hospitalized at Kampala Medical Chambers on Thursday described his state as having been miserable but hopeful.

“The medicine could only be administered through his nose to the lungs using machines.”

“His lungs and liver were all affected. The family was unconvinced about Hepatitis B,” the source said.

However, it is common knowledge that Hepatitis B affects the liver. It is also common among some Africans to blame deaths on witchcraft or poison.

“He rarely spoke, his life was miserable. He had lost weight, weighing about 40 kilograms but his head was still sober and could recognize people.”

A final medical report is yet to confirm the cause of death. Zinkuratire who several Ntungamo residents have taken to social media to mourn as a uniting factor in the district is survived by a wife and four children.

He becomes the fourth MP in the 10th Parliament to die within less than a year. Others include Iganga Woman MP Kaudha Grace Hailat Magumba, Moroto Woman MP Anne Logiel and Toroma county MP Cyrus Amodoi Imalingat.