Tamale Mirundi Junior, the son of the outspoken political commentator and former presidential press secretary, Joseph Tamale Mirundi, is grappling with profound grief following the death of his father. The senior Mirundi passed away on Tuesday night after a prolonged and painful battle with illness, leaving behind a family and a nation that are struggling to come to terms with the loss of such a larger-than-life figure.
In the wake of his father’s passing, Junior took to social media to share his sorrow with the world. On X (formerly known as Twitter), he posted a brief yet heart-wrenching message: “RIP Daddy 😭💔.” The simplicity of these words captured the deep pain of a son who has just lost not only a father but a mentor and a guiding force in his life. The post quickly resonated with thousands, drawing an outpouring of condolences and support from friends, followers, and even strangers who have been touched by the Mirundi legacy.
This moment of public grief is all the more poignant given the recent controversy that had already placed Junior in the spotlight. Just days before his father’s passing, a YouTuber named Kankaka Peter visited Tamale Mirundi on his sickbed and recorded him without consent. The video, which showed the senior Mirundi in a vulnerable state, was widely circulated, sparking outrage. Junior was particularly vocal in his condemnation of Kankaka’s actions, accusing him of exploiting his father’s condition for views and online clout.
https://x.com/TamaleMirundiJr/status/1823471454245028336
In a public statement, Junior expressed his deep disappointment and anger over the incident, emphasizing that his father’s dignity and privacy should have been respected in his final days. This controversy only adds to the weight of the loss that Junior is now shouldering—a burden that has been made heavier by the intrusion of social media into such a private and painful moment.
As Tamale Mirundi Junior mourns his father, he does so under the watchful eyes of a public that both admired and critiqued the man who shaped so much of Uganda’s political discourse. In this moment of grief, Junior’s words and actions will continue to be scrutinized, but for now, the overwhelming sentiment is one of sympathy and support. The nation stands with him as he navigates the painful path of saying goodbye to a father who was, in many ways, larger than life.
