By Moses Walugembe, http://wmosest.wordpress.com
“He
served in government for a long time but was never involved in
stealing or scandals, he was a leader who believed in winning people
over rather than name calling, shifting blame, click formation,
backstabbing or even undermining colleagues. He never suffered from
political sclerosis ” were the awesome words of former East African
Community secretary General Nuwe Amanya Mushega as his old friend, the
former Ugandan 1st
deputy Premier Eriya Kategaya’s body was laid to rest at the family
burial grounds in Karagwe village, Ruhama county, Ntungamo district.
Former
E.A.C S.G Amanya Mushega addresses mourners
The burial ceremony was an elaborate display as thousands of mourners
escorted the funeral cortege to its resting place in Karagwe.
Though in somber mood, the ceremony saw thousands of mourners line at
the entry to St. Augustine Church of Uganda, karagwe to bid farewell to
the country’s first deputy prime minister and minister for east African
Community Affairs Rt. Hon. Brigadier Eriya kategaya, fondly known to his people as an honest and brave gentle politician.
If the intensity of the mourning was meant to be a message to the
outside world, so too was the designed parade of Brigadiers that
accompanied kategaya’s hearse.
The
square in front of the cathedral was filled with mourners, among them
Kategaya’s childhood friend also chief mourner President Yoweri Museveni
and first Lady Janet museveni.
H.EYoweriMuseveni addresses mourners
Others included the deputy Speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanya, EALA
speaker Margaret Zziwa, Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, former Forum for
Democratic Change President Retired Col Dr Kiiza Besigye, former East
African Community SG Amanya Mushega, ministers and dignitaries from
various government departments and countries.
Museveni who promised to kick start a technical institute in the
names of Eriya Kategaya ( Eriya Kategaya Memorial Technical Institute)
in Ntungamo described his former friend as a humble and noble
politician.
He received an 11 military gun salute as his coffin was gently laid into his final resting place.
Kategaya who died of a blood clot in Nairobi hospital on 2nd March at the age of 69, had a modest political career in a span of three decades.
He was hailed by many as the humble and down to earth politician whose many good deeds and virtues will be missed.
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