Watongola death awakens Covid-19 reality in Busoga
Kamuli Municipality Member of Parliament Rehema Watongola succumbed to Covid-19 on Saturday. PHOTO | PPU
What you need to know:
- After the news of Watongola’s death circulated on social and mainstream media outlets, Ms Kadaga suspended her campaigns until further notice to mourn her parliamentary colleague.
- Ms Kadaga reminded the public to adhere to the standard operating procedures and live with the reality of Covid-19, especially during the campaign season.
The untimely death of Kamuli Municipality Member of Parliament (MP) Rehema Watongola has unmasked Covid-19 in Busoga Sub-region.
It has also changed the campaign terrain as candidates in Kamuli have suspended activities for three days of mourning.
Radios in Kamuli and Busoga Sub-region are playing her voiceovers and most people have changed their WhatsApp display pictures to the fallen legislator’s images.
Watongola passed away on Saturday morning, hardly a week after her brother Sam Mubialiwo succumbed to Covid-19.
It is not clear whether Watongola could have contracted the dreadful disease from her brother.
After the news of Watongola’s death circulated on social and mainstream media outlets, Ms Kadaga suspended her campaigns until further notice to mourn her parliamentary colleague.
Ms Kadaga reminded the public to adhere to the standard operating procedures and live with the reality of Covid-19, especially during the campaign season.
“Let us not put the lives of our voters at risk in the quest for votes, but secure their lives by constantly reminding them to wear facemasks, keep social distance and sanitise,” she warned.
Ms Salaamu Musumba, who had a campaign rally drive in the municipality that fateful day, urged candidates to declare three days of mourning.
“This is too tragic for me to handle because Hajjat has been a good political competitor. We compete, beat each other and move on for Kamuli and Busoga’s sake,” Ms Musumba, who lost in the 2016 General Election to Watongola, said.
Hajj Badru Watongola, the widower, however, decried the stigmatisation and malicious propaganda, especially on social media to “gain political capital”.
“We know and can’t believe up to now that Hajjat is gone, but we are disturbed by the negative publicity, speculation and stigmatisation on social media,” Hajj Watongola said at their Kamuli Municipality home.
The vigil will be held at their matrimonial home in Butende and the deceased will be scientifically buried on Monday (today).
Hajj Watongola added that all family members and those who have been in close contact with the deceased have been taken for tests at Kamuli Covid-19 Centre in Busota and reportedly returned ‘good results’.
He further said his wife has died exactly two years after her mother’s burial and a week after burying her brother.
