Museveni Mourns Cyrus Jirongo, Says He Only Recently Learnt of His Death
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has sent his condolences to the family of former Kenyan Cabinet Minister and Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, revealing that he only recently learnt that the veteran politician had died.
Museveni said he was unaware of Jirongo’s death, which occurred in December 2025, until recently. He expressed sadness over the news and described Jirongo as a patriotic leader who served Kenya with dedication.
“I have just learnt that Senator Cyrus Jirongo passed away last December in a motor accident. I was not aware that he had died,” Museveni said in a message shared on his official X account.
The Ugandan President extended his condolences to Jirongo’s family, relatives, friends and Kenyans, adding that the former politician would be missed.
Jirongo’s Death
Jirongo, who was 64, died on December 13, 2025, after his vehicle was involved in a collision with a passenger bus along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway near Karai in Naivasha.
His death was followed by calls from several political leaders and members of his community for further investigations into the circumstances of the crash. At his burial in December, some leaders questioned the official account of the incident and called for a thorough probe.
Renewed Attention on Kenya-Uganda Petroleum Trade
Museveni’s message comes at a time when Jirongo’s name has again featured prominently in discussions surrounding Kenya and Uganda’s petroleum trade.
On Sunday, Museveni revealed that Jirongo was the Kenyan politician who had alerted him around 2019 about Uganda purchasing petroleum products through middlemen in Kenya.
The latest condolence message now brings renewed attention to the long political relationship between the former Kenyan minister and the Ugandan President, as Museveni publicly acknowledges that he had not known about Jirongo’s death until months after it occurred.
A Veteran Politician’s Legacy
Jirongo served as a Cabinet Minister and MP for Lugari, and remained a notable figure in Kenyan politics for decades. His death marked the end of an era for a politician who was both celebrated and controversial in equal measure.