Former Health Minister under Idi Amin’s government and Secretary of Judicial Service Commission, Henry Kyemba has passed on
The Busoga Kingdom think tank Henry Kyemba died at the age of 86. He passed on early this morning. The cause of his death remains unknown.
Henry Kisaja Magumba Kyemba commonly known as Henry Kyemba was born on 8th February, 1937. He was a Ugandan retired political figure who held several high positions and finally became Minister of Health during Uganda’s rule by Idi Amin. He served in that post from February 1974 until May 1977, when he fled into exile.
He has been currently serving as Secretary of Judicial Service Commission.
Profile
Kyemba was born on 8th February 1937 to Suzana Babirizangawo Mutekanga and Suleiman Kisajja, a colonial administrator in the Bunya County in Busoga.
He attended local primary schools, before joining Busoga College Mwiri in Jinja for his Cambridge School Certificate (1951-1956). He was at Makerere University between 1957 and 1962 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) History. Kyemba holds a master’s degree in history from Northwestern University, Evanston, US and a Certificate in African studies from the same university. He also holds an Honours degree in history from the London University.
Career
Kyemba joined the Uganda civil service on the eve of Uganda’s independence from Britain in 1962. He was the Principal Private Secretary to then Prime Minister of Uganda, Milton Obote. Following the 1971 Ugandan coup d’etat, he joined Amin’s cabinet, rising through the ranks to become the Minister of Health (1974–1977) during Amin’s regime. Kyemba defected to London in 1977, where he wrote a book on Amin’s regime titled: “A State of Blood.” He returned to Uganda in 1986, and he currently serves as Secretary of Judicial Service Commission.
He is the author of State of Blood, a 1977 book he wrote after his flight from Uganda that describes Amin’s tyrannical rule.
