Prof. Mkilaha, who was the director general of the Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC) and the chairman of the board of directors of the Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA), had a sudden death at his home in Dar es Salaam during the night of 24th June 2016. The funeral ceremony was held at his home, and his body was buried on Monday 27th June 2016 at the Kisutu cemetery in Dar es Salaam.

Prof. Mkilaha was also the chairman of a steering committee of the Kikuletwa Hydro-Electric Power Project initiated by the Arusha Technical College (ATC) through the financial and technical support of Norway.

Before his appointment to head the TAEC in 2009, Prof. Mkilaha has been working as a lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam’s College of Engineering and Technology (COeT).

He also served on a number of expert panels and boards as well as represented the country at various international and regional levels such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Prof. Mkilaha obtained his PhD degree in diesel engine emissions from Japan’s Toyohashi University of Technology in 1996. He had widely-published research papers and articles in both local and international journals in the areas of internal combustion engines, pollution and toxic metal control from combustion systems, and computer applications in engineering.

He has left behind a widow, a son, and two daughters and grandchildren.

May his soul rest in peace.