RUKUNGIRI – President Museveni has joined leaders from Rukungiri district to eulogize their former LC5 chairman, Charles Kwebangira Byabakama.
Byabakama died on Thursday, July 25 at Nakasero Hospital after battling stroke for several years.
In a condolence message delivered by Rukungiri NRM chairperson Jim Muhwezi on Saturday, Mr Museveni said he knew Byabakama in his early 20s after opposing the past regime to join NRM in 1980.
The President said he remembers how Byabakama was harassed after 1980 elections by the Obote government and went to Rwanda where he took refuge until NRA captured Kasese and most parts of western Uganda.
Mr Museveni contributed Shs40m to help in burial expenses and promised to come and comfort the family soon.
Mr Muhwezi said that Byabakama was a uniting factor of Rukungiri and beyond.
He said the deceased was a unique leader who started as a primary school teacher, Chairman LC3, district councilor, RDC Rukungiri and Yumbe, district chairperson Rukungiri and then town council chairperson for Kebisoni.
“It’s not easy for a leader to come from a level of RDC, district chairperson then to sub-county chairperson, he did that to show that he was down to the people,” Mr Muhwezi said
Rukungiri LC5 chairman Andrewson Katebire said: “He loved his country Uganda and his district; we will shall miss him as a nation, as a district and as Kebisoni Town Council.”
Rukungiri Municipality Member of Parliament Rolland Mugume Kaginda said Byabakama was only one shielding FDC in the district.
“He was a person who would be near his opponent for advice and in due course he managed to stop youth who used to burn tyres in Rukungiri whenever they would get grieved,” he said.
Mr Kaginda said that unlike other leaders, Byabakama worked with all people regardless of the party affiliation. He urged other leaders to learn from him.
Byabakama served as LC5 Chairman Rukungiri, Resident District Commissioner, and was chairman for Kebisoni town council at the time of his death.
He was buried on Saturday.
