The outgoing Umukuka Bob Mushikori passed away on Monday afternoon, succumbing to diabetes at his home in Mbale.

Prior to his death, he was due to handover to the newly elected cultural leader Umukuka elect John Amram Wagabalile.

But who was Sir Bob Mushikori?

Sir Bob Mushikori was born in 1948 in Busayi in Bududa District.

He had his early education at Bushikori nursery that was built by his grandfather and went to Nanyere primary school before joining Nabumali High school for his secondary education.

Between 1967-8, he worked at Pakwach railway line as a commercial officer before being transferred to Masindi railway that transported tea as an in charge of transportation.

He would later be arrested and detained at Luzira Prison during the President, Idd Amin led government that overthrew then dictator Milton Obote.

Sir Mushikori was later released and brought to Mbale where he worked as an informant for Obote while still in exile. 

He was a member of the National Security Agency during the Obote II government and was in the youth wing of the Uganda People’s Congress in 1980 that fought hard to see dictator Obote win the 1980 election.

In 1985, Mushikori ran to Nairobi as a refugee after Acholi soldiers under Gen Tito Okello Lutwa took over the Government.  

He was later taken by the Canadian government together with his family and offered an opportunity to study Environmental Studies at the University of Toronto. 

He thereafter worked at the municipality of Toronto in the department of solid waste management till his retirement at 65years of age. Mushikori returned to Uganda on the request of the president, Yoweri Museveni through the late speaker of parliament and Mbale Municipality Member of Parliament, James Wapakhabulo who picked him up from Canada. 

While in Canada, Mushikor was among the founder members of the North American Bamasaba cultural Association, an association that bonded together with the Bamasaba in the diaspora.

He also set up a security firm called the National Security Agency, which was awarded the contract of guarding airports in Canada. This was Mushikori’s main source of livelihood. 

Rise to the throne

He was elected Umukuka in 2015 after defeating the former Manafwa District LC V Chairperson Ambassador, Charles Walimbwa Peke. 

Mushikor succeeded Ambassador Wilson Wamimbi who cut short his term office. His five-year term of office has been characterized by conflicts, which saw attempts by some clan leaders led by the embattled former speaker of Inzu Ya Masaba Nelson Wedaira try to impeach him for allegedly attempting to change the constitution to hold onto power.

Mushikor was set to officially hand over power to the newly elected Umukuka III John Amram Wagabyalire on January 30th, 2021.

He is survived by a widow and over 10 children who are currently residents of Canada and Austria.