BY DON DEYA
Alute Simon Lissu Mughwai, advocate, was also my boss and mentor towards the end of my eight-year tenure at the helm of the East Africa Law Society (EALS). He was a very gentle, deep and reflective soul and a very kind man.
I used to enjoy weekend lunches with him at his home in Fire Estate, Arusha, especially before cancer ripped his lovely wife away from him and us.
I also know that he raised his children well, both alongside her and after her passing. He was also a devoted mentor to many younger advocates.
We were last together at the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) Annual General Meeting (AGM) this past April in Arusha. Despite his frail health, he had turned up to meet the previously confirmed guest of honour and keynote speaker, the Chief Justice, who pulled out the night before the opening. So, with only hours to go, I was asked to step in as chief guest and deliver the keynote address.
It was the first time I told the Tanzanian and Ugandan Chief Justices that it was no longer Tundu Lissu and Kizza Besigye, respectively, who were on trial. Rather, it was the two Chief Justices and the two judiciaries they oversee that were on trial before the people of Africa and the international community.
Rest in peace, Alute. You have fought the good fight. You have finished your race. You have kept your faith until the very end of this mortal part of our existence.
