President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has Thursday mourned the passing of his Tanzanian counterpart John Pombe Magufuli who died on Wednesday (March 17, 2021) evening by the Vice President.
“Dear Tanzanians, it is sad to announce that today 17 March 2021 around 6 p.m. we lost our brave leader, President John Magufuli who died from heart illness at Mzena hospital in Dar es Salaam where he was getting treatment," the vice president Samia Suluhu announced on state broadcaster TBC.
In a message on his Twitter handle, President Museveni described him (Magufuli) as a pragmatic leader who believed in and worked for economic empowerment of East Africans.
“I have with great sadness, learnt of the death of His Excellency John Pombe Magufuli. He was a pragmatic leader who believed in and worked for the economic empowerment of East Africans. We join Tanzanians in mourning the passing of a great son of Africa. May his soul rest in peace” President Museveni tweeted.
Meanwhile,
Uganda’s Ambassador to Tanzania Richard Kabonero earlier sent a message of condolence.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family, and people of the United Republic of Tanzania on the passing of HE Dr John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, President of the United Republic of Tanzania” Amb. Kabonero wrote.
The country announced 14 days to mourn the former head of state, who had just started his new term of office after the swearing in ceremony on November 6, 2020.
May his soul rest in peace.