The body of the renowned Ugandan cardiologist, Dr. Aggrey Kiyingi, who passed away in Australia where he had been residing, has been repatriated to Uganda for burial. The solemn return took place on Sunday evening at Entebbe International Airport and was attended by grieving family members.
According to Dr. Kiyingi's younger brother, Nelson Mugenyi, a memorial service is scheduled to be held today at Namirembe Cathedral at 2 p.m., offering friends, colleagues, and well-wishers the opportunity to pay their respects and honor the memory of the distinguished physician.
"After the memorial service at 2 p.m. at Namirembe Cathedral, Dr. Kiyingi's body will be taken to the home of our late father, Azalia Kiyingi Ssebbowa, at Busukuma, Namulonge, Wakiso district, for a funeral." Mugenyi shared details about the funeral arrangements.
Dr. Kiyingi's final resting place will be at Busukuma Namulonge, where he will be laid to rest on Tuesday at 4 p.m. Mugenyi refuted claims that the Ugandan government had obstructed the return of Dr. Kiyingi's body, emphasizing that their request had been submitted and granted in accordance with established procedures.
Dr. Aggrey Kiyingi, who passed away last month, was a prominent figure in the medical community and beyond. After graduating from Makerere University with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, he pursued further studies internationally, ultimately completing his specialist cardiology training in Sydney, Australia, at Westmead and Concord Hospitals.
He became a consultant cardiologist in 1989 and later expanded his expertise to include general adult cardiology and echocardiography, with a focus on preventative cardiology, hypertension, and general medicine.
Dr. Kiyingi gained notoriety in the early 2000s when he generously supported various churches and non-governmental organizations in Kampala, using funds he acquired while working in Australia.
Tragedy struck when he was accused of being involved in the murder of his wife, Robinah Kiyingi, a prominent Kampala lawyer. She was tragically gunned down at her home in Buziga, just weeks before a divorce case was to be decided in Mengo Chief Magistrate Court, in which Dr. Kiyingi had accused her of adultery.
Despite being arrested and charged with the murder, Dr. Kiyingi was later released on bail and was ultimately acquitted.
However, more legal troubles arose when he was accused of masterminding the murders of Muslim clerics in Uganda around 2015, as well as allegedly funding the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group. Nakawa Magistrates Court issued an arrest warrant after he failed to appear, prompting threats of extradition from Australia to face charges related to murder, terrorism, crimes against humanity, and attempted murder.
Despite these accusations, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) later discontinued the terrorism charges against Dr. Kiyingi. In 2015, he announced his intention to return to Uganda to challenge President Yoweri Museveni in the 2016 general election, but he did not follow through on this plan.
The return of Dr. Kiyingi's body to Uganda marks the final chapter in the complex and controversial life of a man who was known for both his medical expertise and his entanglement in legal disputes that left a lasting impact on the country's political and legal landscape. His funeral and memorial service are expected to draw significant attention from those who knew him and were touched by his life and work.
