James Wapakhabulo

James Francis Wambogo Wapakhabulo (March 23, 1945 - 27 March,2004) was the foreign minister of Uganda from 2001 until his death.

Wapakhabulo began his career studying law at the University of East Africa (now University of Dar es Salaam). From the 1960s until its collapse in 1977, he worked as a clerk and legal draftsman with the Assembly of the East African Community. Later that year, he moved to Papua New Guinea, as first a senior legal draftsman, and then a principal legal officer. He continued in this role until 1986.

Wapakhabulo became involved with the ruling National Resistance Movement. He then stood for Parliament, and between 1994 and 1995 was Chairman of the Constituent Assembly. In 1996, he was promoted to Speaker of Parliament, which he held until 1998. After three years as a backbencher, he became Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2001. He held both these positions until his death.

In his time as foreign minister, he helped contain a conflict with Rwanda, and soothed relations with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Sudan. In 2001, Wapakhabulo threatened to sue an opposition MP, Wanjusi Wasieba, after Wasieba accused him of blocking his electoral nomination. After making the accusation, Wasieba claimed that he had received death threats and hired armed guards.

Several days before he died, Wapakhabulo wrote to President (and long-time friend) Yoweri Museveni, opposing the lifting of term limits outside those prescribed by the constitution.

Wapakhabulo was liked by many on both sides of Ugandan politics. Upon hearing of his passing, leading opposition MP Aggrey Awori stated that he was "the best speaker ever". He was a recipient of Uganda's Nalubaale Medal, for civilian activists who had assisted during the guerilla war. Upon his death, Vice President Gilbert Bukenya proposed that Parliament Avenue in Kampala be renamed Wapa Avenue in honor of Wapakhabulo.

According to the Ugandan tabloid "Red Pepper", Wapakhabulo was the first African politician to die as a result of AIDS. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/aids/story/0,7369,1185851,00.html Ugandan tabloid breaks Aids taboo] ] However, the Ugandan government has refused to specify a cause of death, simply saying that he died after a long illness.

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