James Musinguzi Garuga, the quiet businessman from Kanungu, earned his place in history when he overturned Amama Mbabazi’s parliamentary victory in court and then stepped back from the political stage. He helped found the Forum for Democratic Change and was widely regarded as a man of principle whose influence combined business, politics, and integrity.
The late Eriya Kategaya once remarked that a Munyankole might shift in bed but never turn away from his word. That saying could easily describe Garuga, a reserved yet resolute entrepreneur and politician who confronted power not to seize it, but to reveal its failings.
In 2001, Garuga staged one of Uganda’s most striking political challenges. He ran against Mbabazi, then serving as Minister of Defence, in Kinkiizi West. Although Mbabazi was declared the winner, Garuga rejected the results and filed a petition at the High Court in Mbarara. He argued that the election was riddled with intimidation, violence, and malpractice. On May 17, 2002, the court nullified Mbabazi’s victory. The Court of Appeal upheld that ruling in December of the same year.
Garuga chose not to stand in the by-election. By then he felt he had made his point, saying he would not endanger supporters in a flawed process. Mbabazi returned to Parliament unopposed in 2003, but the annulment left a lasting mark on Uganda’s political record. Garuga’s decision not to pursue the seat was itself a powerful statement, a political act made without the pursuit of power.
James Garuga Musinguzi was born in 1953 in Kihiihi Town Council, Kanungu District. His father died when he was 13, forcing him to work odd jobs to support his family. Despite these struggles, he excelled academically, studying at Kinkiizi Primary School, Mbarara High School, Makerere College School, and later Makerere University, where he earned a commerce degree. He returned to Makerere in 1980 to complete a law degree.
His early career included work as an accountant at Rayon Textile Limited and Shell Uganda. But he was never content with private success alone. He devoted himself to building institutions, promoting democracy, and strengthening community life.
Garuga’s role in shaping the Forum for Democratic Change was central. He was part of the party’s founding team and provided crucial financial support. The party’s headquarters in Najjanankumbi, which became the heart of Uganda’s opposition movement, was built through his contribution. Garuga helped give the movement both a voice and a home, while deliberately avoiding the limelight.
Later, even as FDC fractured, he aligned with the People’s Front for Freedom, demonstrating that his loyalty was to ideals of freedom rather than to political labels.
In business, Garuga was a major figure. He built Garuga Resort Beach Hotel on Lake Victoria, invested in the safari and hospitality industries in western Uganda, and expanded into transport and agriculture. His Kigezi Highland Tea Company became a cornerstone for tea growers, giving smallholder farmers access to markets and sustainable income.
Garuga also invested in education, health, and church-led community projects, particularly through his long partnership with the Diocese of Kinkiizi. He often said leadership should be earned through honesty rather than bought with wealth or enforced through violence.
He died on August 6, 2025, at Nakasero Hospital after battling cancer. He was 72. Survivors include his wife, Peace Musinguzi, and four children.
Ugandans remember him as a man who exposed the cracks in the country’s electoral system, gave a home to the opposition, and built businesses that empowered rural communities. He was a figure of quiet resolve, principled action, and enduring civic contribution.
