KAMPALA.
The family of John Baptist Kakooza ,an accomplished city lawyer has released a clear programme for his burial .
Kakooza, 70 passed away on Saturday evening at Nsambya Hospital following complications related to diabetes and a stroke.
He was widely respected for his decades-long service to the legal profession and his unwavering commitment to the principles of justice, constitutionalism, and democracy. According to his confirmed send-off programme; there will be a vigil at Kakooza’s home in Nsambya on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 followed by a Requiem Mass at Lubaga Cathedral on Wednesday, May 21,2025 at 9:00am.
JB Kakooza as he was widely known will be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Kalungu District in Masaka Sub Region on Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 2 pm.
Workmates , friends from the Uganda Law Society (ULS), Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA), and the Democratic Party (DP),the political party where he belonged have eulogized him as a great lawyer the country will dearly miss .
Many have described him as a freedom fighter, champion of justice, a reformist, and a legal icon whose contributions left an indelible mark on Uganda’s legal and political landscape. Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, a former DP member, said: “We worked together in the Democratic Party (DP), where he was part of the core nucleus that formed the legal team for Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere and the party in general. This team handled some of the landmark cases that significantly impacted the constitutional jurisprudence of this country—particularly regarding the Political Parties and Organisations Act, when we challenged Sections 18 and 19.”
Mr Isaac Kimaze Ssemakadde, the self-exiled ULS president, described Kakooza as a mentor. “JB was more than a mentor; he was a friend, comrade, and guiding spirit. We enjoyed extensive discussions at his home in Nsambya. His selfless investment in nurturing future generations of lawyers and leaders was inspiring,” he said
The vice president of DP, Mr Fred Mukasa Mbidde, said: “There is no record of Hon Kakooza ever throwing tantrums or responding with hostility, even when he disagreed with fellow Democrats. Unlike many current politicians, he never allowed ideological differences to descend into personal attacks or public outbursts.” Mr Mbidde said
Kakooza was the husband of former Inspector General of Government Justice Irene Mulyagonja, May his soul rest in eternal peace !!!!