Former Bubulo East MP contestant and the head of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party’s legal department, Anthony Wameli, has passed away. He had been hospitalized since 2021, initially at St. Anthony Medical Center in Kasangati, Wakiso district, due to stomach-related complications. Later, he was transferred to Boston Medical Center in Massachusetts, USA, where he was diagnosed with stage four cancer.

Wameli was a prominent figure in Uganda’s legal and political circles. He was the founder and managing partner of Wameli and Company Advocates and had represented high-profile clients, including Jamilu Mukulu, the alleged head of the rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), and former presidential candidate Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde.

NUP party president Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, announced Wameli’s passing on Wednesday afternoon, describing it as a “very sad day”. Wameli’s death has sent shockwaves through Uganda’s political and legal communities, with many paying tribute to his dedication to human rights and his work as a lawyer.

Wameli, 45, succumbed to the cancer of the colon on February 8, 2023 in Boston, United States of America. His body remained stuck in Boston due to shortage of funds to repatriate it, according to family members who spoke to this publication.