Prof Apollo Nsibambi, the former Prime Minister of Uganda who also served as Chancellor of Makerere University between 2003 and 2007 has passed on. Nsibambi breathed his last at his home in Bulenga on Tuesday Evening. He is believed to have died in his sleep but the actual cause of his death is still unclear. As our reporter was filing this story, his body was in Mulago Hospital for a postmortem to ascertain the actual cause of his death.
Born on 25th October, 1940 to Simeon Nsibambi, Prof Nsibambi attended Kings College Buddo for his secondary school education before he proceeded to Makerere University where he pursued and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics. He also pursued a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Chicago, United States and later a Doctorate of Philosophy at the University of Nairobi.
His first job as an academician is believed to have been Warden of Nkrumah Hall at Makerere University. From 1978 to 1983, he served as the Dean of the Faculty of Social Science at Makerere University and in 1987, was appointed as the Head of the Department of Political Science, a position in which he served until 1990. From 1994 to 1996, he served as the Director of the Makerere Institute of Social Research – the position currently filled by Prof Mahmood Mamdan.
Prof Nsibambi ventured into the political arena in 1996 while serving as the Minister of Public Service in Cabinet until 1998. He was appointed Minister of Education and Sports, serving in that position until 1999 when he received appointment as Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business in Parliament.
He also held the prestigious position of Chancellor of Uganda’s biggest public University between 2003 and 2007 and was infact, the first non-head of State to be Chancellor of Makerere.
He is survived by his wife, Esther Nsibambi, four children and five grandchildren. May his soul rest in eternal peace!
