Government declares 5 days of mourning

Francis Atugonza, Hoima town council chairman
Binaisa participated in the manipulation of the constitution in 1967. He has been part of the problem of this country. He set a precedent of changing constitutions in this country which has persisted to-date. He challenges us as leaders to leave a legacy behind well knowing we shall be judged by the decisions we take while still in office especially those who manipulate constitutions.

Prof Dan Nabudere
I knew Binaisa when we were organising the Moshi Conference in the US. He did not represent any of the 22 organisations. So, he was not included in the UNLF arrangements. He came into the picture when Lule was removed as president. He was in Nairobi and some factions within the UNLF fronted him to replace Lule. Among them was the faction led by President Museveni. I remember him as a patriotic Ugandan who was among the few Ugandans that fought hard to unite the country. I worked with his government until he was overthrown by Obote. He was Attorney General for a very long time in a turbulent period.

Bidandi Ssali
He was a nationalist who lived a political life. As President, he struggled very much to keep the UNLF umbrella government but in the end, he was defeated. I remember him as one who dared control the army by appointing the then army commander, the late Oyite Ojok as high commission, which actually led to his downfall. He was a person of integrity who never used his position of leadership for personal gains. He was a mentor who instilled values of leadership into people. I got interested in him in 1962 when I had just left the university. I also served as minister in his government. He had his shortcomings but who doesn’t?

Prof Edward Rugumayo
I remember Binaisa as a very humane person, intelligent, humorous and highly learned. He was a true patriot who loved his country and the people of Uganda. He harbored no ill intensions to anybody and he is one who forgave very quickly. He was a down-to-earth person who wanted to unite the whole of Uganda. I remember him as a good manager and a unifying force but he never had time to accomplish his mission. We shall miss him dearly and of course his family will.

Eng. Yabeezi Kiiza,the Bunyoro Kitara prime minister
He is remembered in Bunyoro for having drafted the 1967 constitution that abolished kingdoms. After his presidency; he became a friend to our kingdom and would at times attend the Omukama’s coronation anniversary celebrations.