Former Finance Minister and current Presidential Advisor on Economy and Finance, Maria Kiwanuka, is mourning the death of her youngest son, Nsereko Kyamukungubya “Kyamu” Kiwanuka, who passed away in the United States last week.

Nsereko, who previously worked at dfcu Bank before relocating abroad, was found dead on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, inside his rented apartment in Washington, DC. A preliminary post-mortem report indicated that he suffered a heart attack.

According to the family, Nsereko had stayed home on Monday due to a public holiday. When he failed to show up at work the following day, a family friend grew concerned and alerted police. Officers forced entry into his apartment where they found him unresponsive, with the television still on his favourite sports channel.

The deceased had recently graduated with a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Denver and had secured a finance advisor position at a U.S. real estate firm. His family revealed that he had impressed his employers so much that his probation was confirmed in just two months, half the usual time.

His uncle, Owek. Robert Wagwa Nsibirwa, the Second Deputy Katikkiro of Buganda, confirmed that arrangements are underway to repatriate the body for burial in Uganda.

The loss comes less than a month after the Kiwanuka family buried two other senior figures — Rhoda Nakibuuka Nsibirwa Kalema and Nnaalongo Margret Kiwana, Maria Kiwanuka’s mother.

Professional Career

At dfcu Bank, Nsereko built a reputation as a talented and innovative professional. As Pinnacle Relations Manager, he managed a portfolio worth about $10 million and introduced new frameworks for client onboarding that encouraged high-volume transactions.

His initiatives brought more than 150 cash-based traders into the banking system, boosted revenue by 35 percent, and improved customer satisfaction by 50 percent. Colleagues described him as dedicated, passionate and highly self-driven.