Ugandan minister's death troubles Korea Foundation

By Jun Ji-hye

A Korean organization denied responsibility Monday for the death of a Ugandan minister who died of heart failure on a plane while flying back to his country on Sept. 12.

Uganda’s Interior Minister Gen. Aronda Nyakairima had been in Korea at the invitation of the Korea Foundation.

Local media in Uganda speculated that the foundation had paid little attention to his health while he was in Korea.

A foundation official said, “During his stay, the minister mentioned that he had a stomach ache, but he didn’t want to be treated in a hospital.”

The official said a stomach ache and headache were common symptoms for people who travel long distances, apparently due to time differences and other factors.

Nyakairima, who visited Korea for seven days from Sept. 6, died on Sept. 12 on a plane heading for Dubai while on his way home.

An autopsy reportedly showed the cause of death was acute heart failure.

Some Ugandan media quoted government officials as saying Korea failed to take proper measures, including hospital care.

The Korean Embassy in Uganda asked the Korea Foundation to explain what happened.

A official told reporters, on condition of anonymity, the government had told Uganda that based on information from the Korea Foundation, accusations Korea was responsible for the death were untrue.

During his stay, Nyakairima met Government Administration and Home Affairs Minister Chong Jong-sup and discussed whether Korea’s resident registration system could be introduced in Uganda.

The Ugandan minister also visited the Korea Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corp.

The Korea Foundation is a Foreign Ministry-affiliated organization specializing in public diplomacy.

Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye