Former Uganda Cranes captain and coach, Jimmy Kirunda (1950-2020) who died on Monday after collapsing near La Grande Hotel in Bwaise, a Kampala suburb.
The ex-cranes captain and coach has been buried in full football honours at his ancestral home in Bugema town, Bulesa – Mayirye Parish.
Mr Kirunda was born to the late Henry Kirunda and Constance Nawalu in Mulago.
In his senior football career, he won three CECAFA Cups as a player and two as a Coach for Uganda. He also captained the Uganda Cranes to the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final where Uganda lost 2-0 to hosts Ghana.
Most notably in his CECAFA honours, Kirunda led top flight Uganda Premier League Club KCCA FC (then KCC) to victory in the CECAFA Clubs Tournament in 1978.
Big figures in society have eulogised him and wished him a peaceful rest. Speaker Kadaga called upon government to look out for “citizens that bring glory to the nation” and never abandon them at all.
“I have learnt about the death of Jimmy Kirunda, one of the greatest footballers our country has produced. We remember the major feat when he captained the national team to the Africa Cup finals in 1978. We shall miss him. Condolences to his family and the football fraternity.” President Museveni said of his death.
He was laid to rest with a jersey #5 KCCA FC shirt pplaced on his casket.
