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Mzee Kaguta to be buried today
Mzee Amos Kaguta. PHOTO BY PPU
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Great man. NRM national vice chairperson describes Museveni’s father as exemplary entrepreneur
Arrangements for the burial of President Museveni’s father, Amos Kaguta, have been finalised, a programme released indicates. According to a State House statement, Mzee Kaguta’s burial is slated for today (Sunday, February 24) at Rwakitura, Nshwere in Kiruhura District.
Mzee Kaguta died on Friday morning at the International Hospital Kampala, a privately-owned health unit, where he was admitted last week.
According to the programme there will be a funeral service at the deceased’s family home and burial will be held thereafter.
The programme also indicates that the cortege was received at the home in Rwakitura on Friday and the casket stayed at the home on Saturday until today (Sunday) when the ceremony begins at Rwakitura at 11am before the burial, which will take place at 4pm.
“In the interest of time, there will be no laying of wreaths during the funeral service. A Condolence Book, however, will be opened in his (Kaguta) honour,” read the statement.
President Museveni in the statement said: “The family wishes to thank all friends, well-wishers and everyone for their prayers and support during the time that Mzee Amos Kaguta was taken ill and went to be with the Lord.”
Mzee Kaguta, a former traditionalist, converted to Christianity and got baptised as Amos around 1944, the year Mr Museveni suspects he was born, and had the toddler baptised at an Anglican Church on August 3, 1947 – without going through requisite catechism lessons.
President Museveni is believed to be the eldest son of the Late Kaguta born to his wife Esteri Kokundeka Nganzi who passed on in November 2001.
Kigongo’s message
Meanwhile, the ruling National Resistance Movement party national vice chair, Hajji Moses Kigongo, has extended condolences to the family, describing the deceased as ‘an outstanding elder and exemplary entrepreneur of his generation.’
“The outstanding qualities in his character and personality can be clearly discerned in the illustrious offspring he gave this country and Africa. Like any other parent, he nurtured and moulded his children to be responsible citizens and members of the community,” said Hajji Kigongo.
He commended Mzee Kaguta for the good upbringing of leaders and revolutionaries; President Museveni and Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho alias Salim Saleh, who, he said, have outstanding personal contribution to the fundamental liberation of the country and Africa.
In his book, Sowing the Mustard Seed, President Museveni describes his father as an enduring character and disciplinarian.
Mr Museveni recounts the father’s struggles to bring them up in a rural and cattle-herding community with modest resources, embracing Western education and imparting in them traditional values even after converting to Christianity in.
