George William Kakooma has passed on at the age of 88 after battling with a brain stroke that he got in August last year.

According to the Widow Maria Theresa, he died this morning at his daughters home in Kololo. The wife confirmed that : "It is true he is dead, we are preparing to take the body to Mulago Hospital."

He composed the anthem on the eve of Uganda's Independence in 1962 and while he did that, there was a strong message in the anthem that if all Ugandans took note of we would be very far as a country.

His wife Maria Thereza a few months back said that Kakoma attended Kings College Budo, East Africa Conservatoire of Music School in Nairobi(1947) and later left for the royal College of Music in London until 1952.

Before Professor Kakoma was attacked by the stroke, he was a farmer and also worked as Inspector of Schools in Music. Uganda will be celebrating 50 years of independence in a few months but unfortunately, the Professor will not be around to celebrate the nation's landmark anniversary.
Related: Uganda National Anthem Composer Awarded 50Mn

Uganda's National Anthem

Oh Uganda!
May God Uphold thee
We lay our future in thy hand
United free
For liberty
Together we ?ll always stand

Oh Uganda!
The land of freedom
Our love and labour we give
And with neighbors all
At our country's call
In peace and friendship we' ll live

Oh Uganda!
The land that feeds us
By sun and fertile soil grown
For our own dear land
We'll always stand