The late Maj. Isaac Newton Baguma Muhanga Amooti
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The country is mourning the death of Maj. Isaac Newton Baguma Muhanga Amooti, a senior officer of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and a prominent leader within the Muhanga clan, whose passing has drawn tributes from family members, government officials and the wider public.
Maj. Amooti died on Friday morning, December 19, 2025, with the news confirmed by his family. Burial arrangements are yet to be announced.
He was a brother to veteran journalist and businessman Andrew M. Mwenda, Commander Land Forces Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga, and State Minister for Primary Healthcare Margaret Muhanga, placing him at the centre of one of Uganda’s most prominent families in public service, media and the military.
Announcing the loss on X, Minister Margaret Muhanga described her brother as both a family pillar and a father figure. “With a heavy heart and so much sorrow, I announce the death of my brother and our family Dad, Maj. Isaac Newton Baguma Muhanga Amooti. He passed on this morning. May God receive him in glory,” she wrote.
Andrew Mwenda also paid glowing tribute to his elder brother, describing him as the undisputed leader of the Muhanga clan. Mwenda said Maj. Amooti had long been the family’s anchor, a unifying force and, in his words, “the captain of our ship,” whose guidance and authority held the extended family together.
Beyond his family role, Maj. Amooti was widely respected for his military service. Holding the rank of Major in the UPDF, he was known as a disciplined officer who served his country with commitment and professionalism. Friends and associates say he carried his military values into community life, earning respect across both civilian and traditional circles. He was also fondly known by his clan name, Kandole, a title associated with leadership and responsibility.
Tributes also poured in from government leaders. Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi extended condolences to the Muhanga family, describing Maj. Amooti as a father figure whose death was deeply painful to those close to him. He prayed for strength and comfort for the family during what he called a very difficult time.
Maj. Amooti’s death marks a significant loss not only to his immediate family but also to the wider community that looked up to him for leadership and counsel. As the nation awaits details of his burial arrangements, many continue to reflect on the life of a soldier, clan leader and family patriarch whose influence extended far beyond his rank.
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