Senior Reporter
Thousands of mourners gathered on Friday in Nyakasa village, Kiyoora Parish, Nyakyera sub-county, Ntungamo district, to pay their last respects to the late Theophilus Tibihika, the town clerk of Lira. Tibihika tragically died in a road accident along the Lira-Apac road on Monday morning.
Several civil servants, led by the Ministry of Public Service Permanent Secretary Ms. Catherine Musingwire and Local Government Permanent Secretary Ben Kumumanya, were among the mourners who traveled from various districts where Tibihika had served. The funeral was also attended by numerous dignitaries, including MPs, district chairpersons, mayors, clerks, and businessmen.
Ms. Musingwire described Tibihika as a dedicated civil servant who valued accountability, transparency, and abhorred corruption. She recalled working with him at KCCA, praising him as one of the most reliable colleagues in the civil service.
Mr. Kumumanya echoed these sentiments, noting that Tibihika was one of the most dependable city town clerks. He highlighted Tibihika’s ability to improve any city he was assigned to manage.
Tibihika served Ntungamo district from 1995 to 2010, resigning from his position as Principal Assistant Secretary to run for the office of MP for Ntungamo Municipality. He lost in the NRM party primaries to the current MP, Mr. Yona Musinguzi Bikwasizehi. Subsequently, Tibihika held several positions, including Deputy City Clerk of Makindye Division, Town Clerk of Mbarara City, Rukungiri Municipality, Fort Portal City, and Kasese Municipality, ultimately serving as the town clerk of Lira City at the time of his death.
Aged 53, Tibihika is survived by his wife, Innocent Natukunda Tibihika, and four children.
