Uganda mourns Kizito Mukalazi, founder of Hormisdallen Schools, who died April 24 after weeks of illness. Memorial held in Kampala; burial set for Nakaseke.
KAMPALA — Tributes have poured in for Kizito Mukalazi, the founder and director of Hormisdallen Schools, following his death on April 24, 2026.
Mukalazi, 71, died after three days in intensive care at Kampala Hospital. His family said he had battled serious health challenges for a long time, including kidney disease and lung damage, leaving his wife, Ritah Nabiryo, widowed with two of their 13 children.
A life built around education
One of Mukalazi’s children, Dennis Kizito, is coordinating the funeral arrangements. He said his father also had five adopted children, underscoring a household that extended beyond biology and toward family in a broader sense.
Family members described a long pattern of treatment abroad.. Dennis said Mukalazi had been receiving medical care in various countries, including India, for an extended period.. When he returned home recently, he was “feeling better,” but the situation changed as his health weakened again, prompting the family to rush him back to hospital.
Beyond the personal loss, friends and public figures remembered Mukalazi for what he built.. The Kamwokya school—his A-list campus in Kampala—began as a nursery on February 12, 1986, starting small with nine pupils and three teachers.. Over time, it expanded into multiple campuses across Kampala and Wakiso districts, including Hormisdallen School Kyebando in Kampala, Hormisdallen School Gayaza, and Darline School in Kiteezi, Wakiso.. At the Kiteezi campus, Mukalazi was also one of the shareholders.
Memorial in Kampala, burial scheduled in Nakaseke
The leadership and institutions he associated with also used the moment to reflect on values they said Mukalazi lived by.. The Higher Education state minister, Dr John Chrysestom Muyingo, described him as a friend and remembered him as patriotic and humble, calling on the family to preserve and grow his educational vision.. The minister’s message urged his loved ones to continue a legacy of compassion.
Other officials echoed similar themes of unity, service, and dedication. Kabuye Kyofatogabye, the State Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, urged Ugandans to honour Mukalazi’s work by embracing unity, love, and service to one another beyond divisions.
Church and traditional leaders also joined the mourning.. The Katikkiro of Buganda kingdom, Charles Peter Mayiga, said the kingdom was saddened, noting that Mukalazi loved Buganda and supported multiple programmes, including efforts linked to his schools hosting Ekisaakaate, an annual children’s holiday camp that offers mentorship.
Why Mukalazi’s legacy matters now
Bishop David Kiganda, an evangelist and Bible teacher, thanked God for Mukalazi’s life and called attention to his character—humble, generous, and service-minded.. For many people watching the tributes, the message resonated because it ties everyday influence to lasting impact: a school founder is often remembered not just for facilities, but for how children are taught to carry themselves when life gets hard.
That dimension is especially important in a country where education is both a personal route to opportunity and a community responsibility.. Mukalazi’s work—starting with a small nursery nearly four decades ago and growing into several campuses—signals the kind of sustained effort that families usually feel directly: classmates who progress to higher levels, parents who trust a school, and communities that gain access to structured learning.
The memorial service was held at Christianity Focus Centre in Mengo Kisenyi, Kampala, on Monday, April 27. Mukalazi is expected to be laid to rest at Kagembe in Semuto town council, Nakaseke district, on Tuesday, April 28.
For his family, the days ahead will be both practical and deeply emotional—closing a chapter while trying to carry forward a vision that many say was built with discipline, faith, and a desire to contribute to the public good.. For the wider education community, the tributes are also a reminder: school leadership can shape futures long after the founding figure is gone.