The President gave the eulogy for the late NRM cadre and former deputy premier Ali Kivejinja who died on Saturday
BY Our Team
President Yoweri Museveni on Sunday led the nation in mourning former Second Deputy Prime Minister Ali Kirunda Kivejinja.
Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda read the President’s speech to the mourners who had converged at Old Kampala Mosque to pray for Kivejinja. Museveni noted that he was saddened to learn of the death of the late Kivejinja.
“On behalf of my family, the Government, the National Resistance Movement Party and the entire nation, I wish to extend heartfelt sympathies to the family upon this tragic loss,” Museveni said.
He noted that the late Kivejinja will be remembered for his distinguished contribution to the countries liberation struggles to free Uganda and the whole of Africa from the yoke of Colonialism and the post-independence dictatorial regimes.
“He was a dedicated Pan-Africanist, who utilized his exceptional talents and vast education to advance the cause for liberty, unity and prosperity of the African continent. He nobly executed the responsibility of a true freedom fighter by living a life of sacrifice, discipline and humility,” Museveni noted.
Museveni said the NRM party had lost a committed and patriotic mobiliser, whose tireless efforts helped to deepen the roots of our historical mission to transform Uganda, from a peasant society into a modern and prosperous country.
“To the family of the late Rt. Hon. Ali Muwaabe Kirunda Kivejinja, I pray that God gives you the fortitude and courage to go through this moment of loss and sorrow. The death of a loved one is always a time of agony because of the beautiful memories you shared with them,” Museveni added.
The President said that it was his prayer that even in the midst of this sad loss, the family finds reason to thank God, for the time he had allowed them to share with him.
“I ask that you celebrate his life and dwell on his wonderful achievements, which have touched and transformed the lives of many people. Though his earthly life has come to an end, I urge you to carry on his great work and to continue in the path of his exemplary legacy,” Museveni further stated.
Museveni thanked God for the life of the late Kivejinja which has been saturated with great commitment to his family and country.
Battle for life
Kirunda passed away on Saturday evening after spending over one month at the Mulago National referral hospital where he was being treated of covid-19.
Medical sources noted that old age, diabetic condition and a stroke of malaria that struck 85 year old Second Deputy Prime Minister Ali Kirunda Kivejinja while in Intensive care Unit (ICU) at Mulago weakened him further.
“Kivejinja was 85 years of age and was at a greater risk of requiring hospitalization or dying once he had been diagnosed with COVID-19,” a medical source told our reporters.
Almost two weeks after his admission Kivejinja was rushed into the ICU after his condition further deteriorated and his oxygen saturation also failed. He spent two weeks and five days in the ICU before he was declared dead on Saturday evening.
“His right lung collapsed as he was receiving treatment prompting the doctors to insert an invasive tube insertion to improve the saturation,” medical sources revealed.
State Minister for Health in Charge of General duties Robinah Nabbanja confirmed Kivejinja’s lung had collapsed while in ICU where he was admitted for over a month and that he had tried his level best to fight for his life but the virus overpowered him.
“Covid-19 has no medicine and what the doctors do is try and give you medicine to boost your immunity so that it fights off the disease.
One of his lungs got damaged and he had been left with one lung but unfortunately it also got affected and in the process he could not successfully fight of the virus,” Nabbanja said.
He will be buried today at his home in Bugweri district.