By Our Reporter
Renowned Ugandan cartoonist, philosophy teacher, and political analyst, Jim Spire Ssentongo, has come forward to dispel widespread rumours surrounding the untimely death of his brother, Dr. John Spire Kiggundu.
Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Ssentongo issued a heartfelt statement aimed at clarifying the cause of death, urging the public to stop spreading false and harmful narratives.
“Though it may not be the right time amidst grieving, I just want to dispel the harmful disinformation circulating around Dr. John Spire Kiggundu’s sudden death,” he wrote.
Ssentongo firmly dismissed circulating claims suggesting that his brother had been kidnapped, shot, and later dumped, calling them entirely untrue and misleading.
He revealed that findings from the official post-mortem report confirmed the cause of death to be a heart attack, and that Dr. Kiggundu’s body was found a day after his passing.
“He was not kidnapped. He was not shot. His death was not politically motivated,” Ssentongo emphasized.
Ssentongo also addressed another circulating rumour linking his late brother to a business relationship with the Buganda Kingdom’s Katikkiro, Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga.
He clarified that while Dr. Kiggundu once hosted the Katikkiro as a chief guest at the launch of Henrob Hospital in 2020, there were no business ties between them.
“It is not true that he had ANY business relationship with Owek. Peter Mayiga,” he wrote.
He further paid tribute to his brother’s hard work and legacy, noting that Henrob Hospital, which Kiggundu built from a single-room clinic in 2003, was named after his sons Henry and Robert.
In his closing remarks, Ssentongo urged the public, especially those who admired his brother, to avoid spreading misinformation that could harm others or sow unnecessary division during a time of grief.
“Please disregard the disinformation. It causes pain to the family and damages the reputation of people who have nothing to do with his passing,” he appealed.