Former Lwengo Woman MP Nakabira laid to rest

Agriculture Minister Vincent Ssempijja (R) and other mourners laying wreaths on the casket of former Lwengo Woman MP Gertude Nakabira on January 22, 2020. PHOTO BY MALIK FAHAD JJINGO

It was a sombre mood at Kibengo Village, Mateete Sub- County in Sembabule District on Wednesday evening as hundreds people turned up for the burial of former Lwengo District Woman MP Gertrude Lubega Nakabira.

Ms Nakabira, 57 died last Sunday morning at Nsambya hospital after battling cancer.

Masaka Diocese Bishop Emeritus John Baptist Kaggwa who led the requiem mass asked people to always seek to improve their faith and be ready to meet the creator.

Bishop Kaggwa described Nakabira as an extremely God fearing person and a focused politician for serving the country beyond self.

“I challenge all lawmakers to learn from Nakabira. She was strong in whatever she believed in even when it against her political party’s position,” the bishop said.

Her place of burial had earlier sparked off a major disagreement between her family members.

Some of the family members led by her son Jordan Mawejje insisted that she be buried at the deceased’s school Emmanuel Junior School in Kinoni Town along Masaka-Mbarara Highway.

On the other hand, another group led by her husband Emmanuel Lubega, suggested that she be buried at her matrimonial home at Kibengo. She was finally laid to rest at her matrimonial home.

An agreement on where to bury the former MP was finally reached late on Tuesday night.

The prelate also called for calm and forgiveness among family members of the fallen lawmaker.

Several dignitaries, including the vice president Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, Agriculture Minister Vincent Ssempijja, Sembabule District Woman MP Hanifah Kawooya, former Woman MP Gomba District Nakato Kyabangi, and Mawogola South MP Joseph Ssekabito, among others eulogized the deceased as a dependable legislator who loved Uganda and her political party, NRM.

Mr Ssempijja, who represented the president also thanked Nakabira for being a hardworking person.

“She was a very developmental person and she will always be remembered for her hard work and efforts, Nakabira was very instrumental in improving education service delivery in Sembabule when she served as a district education officer and during her time in Parliament,” he added.

The deceased’s elder son Jordan Mawejje apologized to mourners for what had earlier happened including holding her mother’s body in Kampala which interrupted burial arrangements.

“I am sorry for what happened, but I was trying to honour my mum’ s will, since she indicated that she wanted to be buried at her school in Kinoni. I am so sorry and my intentions were not bad,” he said.

The deceased’s husband Mr Lubega thanked government for the financial support they rendered to the family during his wife’s sickness and the burial.