Kamuli District Chairman, Charles Maxwell Mugude, who died in a fatal road crash this morning, had recently revealed that he had survived a poisoning attempt — a claim that has since cast a shadow over the circumstances of his death.
Mugude, 47, made the revelation during what would become his final public appearance at a closed-door political meeting held at the Civil Service College in Jinja.
The gathering, which brought together National Resistance Movement (NRM) delegates and Busoga sub-region leaders, was organised to strategise support for Speaker Rebecca Kadaga’s bid for Second National Vice Chairperson (Female) of the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC).
“I have been on treatment following the poison,” Mugude told attendees, in a disclosure that was initially met with concern but is now being revisited with a sense of urgency following his sudden death.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango, Mugude crashed into a stationary Sino truck at around 4:30am on the Njeru–Kayunga–Gayaza Road in Nakifuma, Mukono District.
He died on the spot.
“He was coming from the Mukono side heading towards Kayunga when the accident occurred. The wreckage has been towed and is currently parked at Naggalama Police Station,” Onyango said.
The incident has triggered speculation in Kamuli and beyond, with residents and political observers openly questioning whether Mugude’s death was purely accidental.
His claim of a poisoning attempt — alongside a record of surviving two other road accidents since taking office in 2021 — has fuelled suspicions of foul play.
Mugude has reportedly been treated for poisoning at a German facility.
Colleagues described Mugude as a tenacious and outspoken leader who was unafraid to confront entrenched interests in district politics.
A staunch supporter of the NRM, he was often praised for his assertiveness but was also said to have made enemies due to his uncompromising approach to governance.
His death has created a leadership vacuum in Kamuli District and sent the community into mourning.
Leaders from across the political divide have called for an independent and thorough investigation into both the poisoning allegation and the fatal road crash.
As funeral arrangements continue, the late chairman is being remembered not just for his political leadership, but also for the unresolved threats that seemed to stalk him until the end.