On this day in 2004, Uganda was thrown into mourning following the death of Francis Ayume in a tragic road accident at Nakasongola along the Kampala–Gulu Highway.
Ayume, who was serving as Attorney General and Member of Parliament for Koboko County at the time, died at around 11pm while returning to Kampala from Masindi, where he had attended a golf tournament.
He was travelling in a government Toyota Prado when the vehicle reportedly hit a pothole, causing a tyre burst that made the driver lose control before the car rolled several times.
Ayume died on the spot alongside his bodyguard, Anthony Kago. The driver, Michael Isingoma, survived with serious injuries.
Ayume was widely regarded as one of Uganda’s most respected legal minds and had built a distinguished career in public service. Before becoming Attorney General, he served as Speaker of Parliament from 1998 to 2001.
Because of his senior position in government and the circumstances surrounding the crash, questions were immediately raised about whether foul play could have been involved.
Authorities later attributed the accident to the poor state of the road and the loss of control following the tyre burst.
Thousands of mourners later gathered in Koboko to pay tribute to Ayume, who was remembered by political leaders and citizens alike as a calm, influential and experienced statesman whose death left a major gap in Uganda’s leadership.
