A life well lived, looking into Tamale’s Journey.
By Joselyn Nakitto and Amos Ssemuwemba
Ugandans woke up to shocking news of the demise of Veteran Journalist, Political Commentator and former Presidential Press Secretary, Joseph Tamale Mirundi.
The fallen controversial and out spoken Political analyst, succumbed to lung related complications on August 13, 2024 at 11:20pm at Kisubi hospital in Kampala where he has been receiving treatment for over a month, at the age of 60, according to family sources.
“He has been in hospital for over a month. He had even started showing signs of improvement. On Sunday and Monday he seemed ok. The doctors said he had water in his lungs; they have been sucking it out. However, today his health conditions detoriated and when they tried to suck the fluid out it was blood”. One of his sons said
Mirundi was born to Molly Namatovu and the late Yowana Mirundi, of Matale- Kalagala village, Kailisizo Town Council, Kyotera District in 1964 as their ninth child.
He came to kampala in 1979 for secondary school and he attended Rubaga Senior Secondary School. While there in senior three, Mirundi joined Munno newspaper as a part-time writer. He later joined Makerere University where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and later on, a Master’s in Communications. In 1998, he left Munno to start his own two newspapers, The Voice and Lipoota, but the newspaper never picked.
In 2003, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni appointed him as his Press Secretary a role he served for 13 years. His tenure was marked by blunt and abrasive commentary, which earned him both criticism from anti-government individuals and organizations among others and praise from government supporters.
After his dismissal, he remained a vocal Political analyst and media personality, regularly featuring on popular television programs such as, ‘Sharp Talk with Tamale Mirundi’, ‘Emuga’ which aired on STV, ‘One on One’ hosted by Sir Simon Muyanga Lutaaya on NBS from and Inside Out, currently airing on Sir Simon Muyamga You Tube channel.
Throughout his career, Mirundi was known for his sharp predictions and Political analysis, the most notable was about the rise of the People Power movement in 2021, and the fall of Political figures such as Eric Sakwa.
His outspoken style got him into legal and political battles, these including among others; defamation suits and accusations of inciting violence.
In 2019, Mirundi made allegations of being poisoning although there was no legal action taken.
As a journalist, civil servant and Political commentator, Mirundi is remembered for his significant contributions to his country.
