Our news reporter
Kanungu tycoon James Garuga Musinguzi’s life journey, which began with humble roots and rose to national prominence, ended last week after a long health battle. His widow, Dr. Peace Musinguzi, revealed during the funeral service at All Saints Church, Nakasero, how Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa made urgent efforts to save his life in his final days.
Garuga, married to Dr. Peace since 1980 after meeting at Makerere University in the late 1970s, had battled throat cancer since 2006. After years of treatment abroad, he was eventually declared cancer-free. However, last November, he developed sudden hip-related pain — an old injury from a 1992 accident — which worsened rapidly. Tests at Nakasero Hospital and later Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi revealed severe lung complications that required immediate treatment at a specialized hospital in London, where he had previously received care.
The challenge was that Garuga’s UK visa had expired, and his urgent application was declined. This is where Thomas Tayebwa entered the picture.
Francis Runumi, Garuga’s lifelong friend and former Ministry of Health Commissioner, reached out to Tayebwa — a proud mentee of Garuga from their FDC days. Deeply concerned, Tayebwa leveraged his close relationship with the British High Commissioner in Kampala. Understanding the urgency, the Commissioner personally called Dr. Peace Musinguzi, advising a fresh visa application and promising to expedite it within the limits of UK’s strict immigration rules.
Although the British visa process could not be bypassed, Tayebwa’s intervention secured direct communication between the High Commissioner and the family, giving them hope. As they explored alternatives, Turkey emerged as the next viable treatment option. Tragically, Garuga’s condition deteriorated before he could be flown to Istanbul, and he passed away.
During the service, Dr. Peace publicly thanked Tayebwa for stepping in when the family needed influence and access to high-level diplomatic channels. She also expressed gratitude to former Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, who supported the family in Garuga’s final days.
Tributes from Garuga’s children, close friends, and political allies painted a picture of a man who bridged political divides. The children fondly remembered Dr. Kizza Besigye’s unwavering friendship, regularly attending Garuga’s birthdays in Kanungu, including the one celebrated at his final resting place late last year.
Rev. Andrew Agaba, a close confidant, suggested that Besigye’s continuous persecution — including imprisonment at Luzira — had deeply stressed Garuga, potentially worsening his health. He urged Rugunda and former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi to advocate for fairer treatment of Besigye, reminding them of his critical role as Museveni’s physician during the NRA bush war.
There was a notable silence regarding the current FDC leadership. While Erias Lukwago and Semujju Nganda were warmly acknowledged, embattled FDC President Patrick Amuriat appeared isolated during the service. This omission underscored Garuga’s growing disengagement from the party he co-founded in 2005, to which he had donated its Najjanankumbi headquarters and funded numerous activities.
Mbabazi confirmed Garuga’s pivotal role in mobilizing billions for the NRA struggle, while Rugunda hailed him as a unifier who brought adversaries together. Finance Minister Matia Kasaija described him as a philanthropist committed to empowering people beyond ethnic and religious lines. Runumi, in his eulogy, celebrated a 50-year friendship filled with loyalty, generosity, and service to the nation.
Though Garuga ultimately succumbed to illness, Tayebwa’s swift action in attempting to secure emergency medical access abroad stood out as a testament to the respect and mentorship bond between the two men. In a story filled with political, personal, and historical layers, the Deputy Speaker’s intervention was one of the final acts of loyalty shown to a man who had given much to Uganda’s political and social landscape.
