Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has expressed shock after learning that former Kenyan politician Cyrus Jirongo died in a road accident in December 2025.
Museveni's revelation comes after Jirongo reportedly told him about alleged middlemen involved in East Africa’s Government-to-Government (G-to-G) petroleum importation arrangements.
Museveni said Jirongo had approached him in 2019 and raised concerns over Uganda’s procurement of petroleum products through intermediaries in Kenya, rather than directly from the government under the G-to-G framework.
“The Republic of Uganda was buying petroleum products through middlemen in Kenya. Can you imagine that? And the person who woke me up first was a senator from Kenya,” Museveni said in earlier remarks.
On Monday, Museveni said he had only just learnt of Jirongo’s death.
“I have just learnt that Senator Cyrus Jirongo passed away last December in a motor accident. I was not aware that he had died,” Museveni said.
He described Jirongo as a patriotic Kenyan leader who served his country with dedication.
“This is very sad. Jirongo was a good and patriotic leader who served his country with dedication. We shall miss him. My condolences go to his family, relatives, friends and the people of Kenya. May his soul rest in peace,” Museveni added.
Museveni has linked Jirongo’s revelation to Uganda’s decision to end the previous petroleum procurement arrangement with Kenya and pursue direct sourcing of bulk petroleum products.
According to the Ugandan president, the previous arrangement involved a premium of $118 per metric tonne for diesel, compared with $83 per metric tonne under Uganda’s current arrangement involving Vitol and the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC).
The remarks have triggered controversy in Kenya, with questions being raised over the Government-to-Government petroleum importation framework.
Kenya’s Ministry of Energy and Petroleum has rejected allegations of irregularities in the importation and supply of refined petroleum products under the G-to-G arrangement, maintaining its position as scrutiny of the deal continues.
Jirongo served as Kenya’s Minister for Rural Development from March 12 to December 27, 2002. He also represented Lugari Constituency in Parliament from 1997 to 2002 and again from 2007 to 2013.
