The President of the African Chess Confederation Ms Tshepiso Lopang has expressed her condolences to the people of Uganda and the East African chess community following the death of the founding vice chairman of the Uganda Chess Federation Dr Yusuf Mpairwe.
Dr Mpairwe alongside the late Paul Bitarabeho and Lawrence Kapanga were the pioneer members of the Uganda national chess team. Apart from being a pioneer member, Mpairwe was the founding vice chairman of the Uganda Chess Federation.
He was the only surviving founding member of the Uganda Chess Federation. The founding members were Paul Bitarabeho (founding chairman) and Lawrence Kapanga (founding secretary general).
“On behalf of the ACC and the continental family of chess, I wish to express our deepest sympathy and condolences to you, to everyone at the Uganda Chess Federation, Zone 4.2 (Burundi, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda) and most importantly the family of Dr Yusuf Mpairwe, his friends and loved ones.
Together with the late Paul Bitarabeho (founding chairman) and Lawrence Kapanga (founding secretary-general), Dr Yusuf Mpairwe who is the founding vice chairman of the Ugandan Chess Federation played a pivotal role in the development and growth of chess in Uganda and the region. Kindly convert our message that the African chess community remembers this legend and stands by the family in this period of pain and mourning.”
Dr. Yusuf Mpairwe passed away on the 12th of April 2023 leaving behind her wife Hilda Busingye Kamujanduzi, four children (Aine,Hati, Arigye and Aguma) and several grandchildren. He will be laid to rest on Sunday 16 April 2023 at his home in Rutooma.