Kibuku, Uganda | The Vice President, Rtd. Major Jessica Alupo Epel, on behalf of President Museveni, on Sunday joined thousands of mourners to witness the send-off of Juliet Rainer Kafire, former Member of Parliament for Kibuku County in Kibuku District, at her ancestral home in Bulangira Town Council, Kibuku District.
Alupo delivered a condolence message from President Museveni as chief mourner and described Kafire, the former Democratic Party leader, as a great mother and a leader of development in the Bukedi sub-region, claiming she achieved a lot during her life for the people of Kibuku District and the Bukedi region at large.
Alupo said the late Hon. Juliet Rainer Kafire served two consecutive terms in Parliament from 1996 to 2006, representing Kibuku Constituency, and was a former Constituent Assembly delegate in the process of making the 1995 Constitution.
“His Excellency the President didn’t only send me to deliver the condolence message, but also assigned me to deliver a condolence fee of Shs10 million to the deceased family to assist in burial arrangements,” Alupo said after reading the message verbatim.
The Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Markson Oboth Oboth, was represented by the Member of Parliament for Older Persons in Eastern Uganda, Ofwono Opondo.
Ofwono said Kafire’s contribution in Bukedi is noticeable, attributing her great effort in the development sector because she built many schools and health centres in Tororo District, colleges and health facilities in Iyolwa and Nabiyoga sub-counties in West Budaka, in the names of Rainer Colleges, which were later taken up by government ministries of Education and Health.
Opondo also pulled out an envelope containing Shs10 million, saying it was from Jacob Oboth Oboth on behalf of Parliament.
Dr. Monica Musenero, the Minister for Energy and Minerals, thanked President Museveni for giving four ministerial positions to the Bukedi region.
Musenero said Museveni valued the votes he got in the Bukedi sub-region, which prompted him to appoint Sanjay Tanna as Minister for Trade and Industry, Rt. Hon. Jacob Oboth Oboth as Speaker of Parliament, and Dr. Monica Musenero as Cabinet Minister for Energy and Minerals.
“My appeal to President Museveni is to consider former MPs, ministers and LC5 chairpersons who lost elections, like Jennifer Namuyangu Kacha, former District Woman MP for Kibuku and former State Minister for Bunyoro Affairs; Sarah Wenene; Sarah Kataike, former MP for Budaka and former State Minister for Luwero Triangle; James Okurut, former LC5 chairperson of Butebo; Goole Nicholas, former MP for Budaka; Kezekia Mpogo, former MP for Budaka County; David Ochwa, former MP for Agule; Richard Oseku, former Member of Parliament for Kibale; and Kevin Kaala of Pallisa, with some appointments to keep them comfortable.”
However, Emmanuel Dombo, who represented the NRM Secretary General, Richard Todwong, said late Kafire left a very big legacy because, though she was a DP leader, she worked well with the NRM government for better development and indeed made a significant contribution. He added that her marriage to Rainer, a mzungu, brought development to Bugwere and Uganda as a whole.
Dombo, on behalf of the NRM, specifically the office of Richard Todwong, contributed Shs5 million towards the burial arrangements.
The DP party, to which Kafire belonged, was fully represented by Secretary General Dr. Gerald Siranda and supporters of DP from across Uganda, who delivered the party’s condolence messages.
Dr. Siranda thanked Kafire for the many things she accomplished, such as building many schools and health centres across the country, but urged the NRM government to appreciate the good legacy of the late Hon. Kafire.
Siranda said that, as the Democratic Party (DP), they also contributed Shs5 million towards the burial arrangements.
Among the dignitaries who graced the celebration of Kafire’s life were MPs Dr. Patrick Wakida (Kabweri County), Sylvia Katooko Damba, Swaib Kampanya (Ki-Iki), Agnes Ammede (Butebo District Woman MP), Kataike Babula (Budaka District), and James Waluswaka (Bunyole).
Dr. Patrick Wakida, Member of Parliament for Kabweri County in Kibuku District, said he is one of the beneficiaries of the late Mama Kafire Rainer because she supported his education, politics and career guidance.
Haji Muhammad Nakeba, the Kibuku District Chairperson, requested President Museveni, through the Vice President, to establish a government technical institute in remembrance of the late Hon. Juliet Rainer Kafire.