KOBOKO — Former Koboko District Council Speaker George Ambe has died at the age of 78 after spending more than two weeks in intensive care.
Ambe died on Thursday, August 27, 2026, according to family members, who said he had been receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for more than 16 days.
He was a veteran local government leader and respected elder in Koboko District, West Nile Sub-region, having served as Speaker of the district council.
Ambe was widely involved in local administration and community affairs and remained active in initiatives aimed at supporting communities in the region after leaving formal leadership.
Beyond his political and administrative roles, Ambe was associated with Smart Change Uganda, a community-based organisation involved in development initiatives in northern Uganda, including Arua and Koboko. He was listed as the organisation’s chairperson and treasurer.
His death brings to an end decades of involvement in the leadership and development of Koboko, where he was regarded as an experienced voice in local affairs.
Ambe’s death comes at a time when questions of leadership succession and the preservation of institutional memory continue to shape local government in Uganda. Leaders such as Ambe belonged to a generation that witnessed the transformation of local administration from the turbulent politics of the post-independence era into the decentralised system that exists today.
Koboko, in Uganda’s West Nile region, is also historically associated with former President Idi Amin, who was born in the area.
Funeral arrangements had not been widely announced by Thursday, while tributes from district leaders, community members and other public figures were expected as news of his death spread.
The family is expected to provide further details on the burial programme.