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Narendra, Uganda's first Speaker, dies
Narendra Patel
What you need to know:
The former Mbale Constituency legislator died yesterday morning in Baroda, India after a long illness.
Uganda’s first Speaker of Parliament, Narendra Patel, has passed on.
Narendra, Uganda’s first non-British Speaker and former legislator for the then Mbale Constituency, died yesterday morning in Baroda, India after a long illness and his body was immediately cremated.
“We regret to announce the untimely demise of Hon Narendrabhai Patel who passed away early this morning Sunday 16 in Baroda India, cremation took place in Baroda this morning. May the Almighty God rest his soul in eternal peace,” reads a message from the Indian community.
Parliament’s spokesperson, Ms Hellen Kaweesa, confirmed to Daily Monitor yesterday that they had received a communication from Patel’s relatives regarding his death.
“We received a communication from his relatives that he died and was cremated but since we are still handling arrangements for the Speaker’s (Rebecca Kadaga) late father and for the late MP, Cerinah Nebanda, we shall give more details on Tuesday,” Ms Kaweesa said.
Other deaths
Ms Rebecca Kadaga lost her father last week and he is to be buried today in Mbulamuti, Kamuli District. MP Nebanda died on Friday under unclear circumstances.
Ms Kaweesa said since Patel is former MP, Parliament have to pay tribute to him like it does to other former MPs.
Mr Arviand Patel, a nephew of Mr Narendra, told Daily Monitor yesterday that Narendra will be greatly missed.
“His advanced age contributed to his death,” Mr Arviand said.
He said the deceased was a hardworking politician, who contributed greatly to shaping the structure of Parliament.
“He stood strongly on values and was a strong politician who advocated for the unity of Africa,” said Mr Arviand.
Biography:
- Narendra was born and raised in India in a small town called Pij, in Kheda District.
- He succeeded Sir John Bowes Griffin, a British lawyer and former Ugandan chief justice as temporary Speaker and was later unanimously elected to the position in 1963.
- He was a Speaker at a time when President Milton Obote abrogated the Constitution after falling out with the Buganda Kingdom and introduced a pigeonhole constitution.
- He was also the Speaker of the first Republic which was created after the banning of kingdoms.
- But like the first Speaker, Narendra did not have much power as the government was at the centre of all decision making.
- Narendra reign as Speaker ended in 1971 when Idi Amin took over power, sending the House into abeyance.
- Having served in the Second Parliament, he left the country in 1972 when the Amin regime expelled Asians.
