Hundreds of mourners on Wednesday converged at the All Saints Cathedral Nakasero in Kampala to pay tribute to the Late Yonasani Kanyomozi, the former Minister of Cooperatives and Marketing during Obote II Government between 1979 – 1985.
Kanyomozi, 81, died at Nakasero Hospital on Sunday. The exact cause of his death was not disclosed but family sources attributed it to sudden headaches and general body weakness.
The deceased’s children, relatives, close friends, business partners, Government officials, and the Church described him as a God-fearing father; a nationalist, principled political actor, and an adherent member of the Uganda People’s Congress -UPC, where he served as a National Party Chairman.
Rt Rev. Dr. Hannington Mutebi, the Assistant Anglican Bishop of Kampala, eulogized Kanyomozi for living a fulfilling and rewarding life guided by unshakable faith and principles.
Richard Henry Kaijuka, who has been a friend to Kanyomozi for 65 years sent the mourners into prolonged laughter after he described their high school and dating life that started way back from Ntare School in Mbarara. Kaijuka, a former minister revealed that Kanyomozi was an economist who dated high-caliber girls that afforded them an opportunity to visit the Queen of England’s House, Buckingham Palace in the UK.
Bart Magunda Katureebe, the former Chief Justice who worked with the deceased under the National Resistance Council in around 1989 also spoke highly of Kanyomozi describing his great nationalist with a firm political affiliation to the UPC that was never easily swayed.
Miria Obote, the widow of former Prime Minister and President Milton Obote lauded Kanyomozi for his loyalty to the UPC party and implored former members who denounced the party to rejoin them and rebuilt the party to restore its former glorious days.
The memorial service was attended by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, Dr Kiiza Besigye, Maj Gen (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu, UPC party President Jimmy Akena, George Odong of the East African Legislative Assembly – EALA, ex-legislators, and Members of Parliament among others.
The Late Kanyomozi had the privilege to serve in different capacities as Managing Director, Community Management Services from 1985 to date; Member of EALA (2001 – 2006), NRC Representative for Kajara County from 1989-1996, Bushenyi South legislator from 1980 – 1985.
He was also a member of the National Consultative Council (1979-1980), an Economic at Africa Development Bank (1977-1979), Director of Industrial Development Centre, and Economic Advisor and Personal Aide to Chairman Uganda Electricity Board between 1966-1970.
He will be laid to rest at his ancestral upcountry home in Rwashamaire, Kajara in Ntungamo District on Friday, September 2nd, 2022.
