Teddy Seezi Cheeye, the former director of economic monitoring in the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) who recently completed a jail term for corruption is dead.
Details about the cause of death are still scanty.
Ugandans best remember him for the dramatice court battle that had him jailed and was also ordered to refund sh110m. The funds embezzled were meant for activities to fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
Veteran journalist Cheeye then conceded that his company, ironically called Centre for Accountability, could not account for the Global Fund money, but argues that he is not personally responsible for the loss.
Although he went up to the highest appellate court the Supreme Court to challenge his sentence and conviction, Cheeye was not successful. But he still strongly believes that he did not get justice.
It was the irony of ironies that the once feared crusading journalist who edited and run the no-holds-barred Uganda Confidential newsletter that broke big corruption stories, ended up convicted of corruption. But Cheeye believed that he paid the ultimate price for stepping on the toes of powerful people.
Cheeye had strong opinions on Uganda’s politics having been a keen observer of the situation in the country from his prison cell.
Cheeye, originally Catholic, became born-again during his first years at the prison.
May his soul RIP
