By Amos Ssemuwemba
In a heartfelt plea for unity and respect, Kisoro district council has implored the Mateke family to nominate a worthy successor for the esteemed position once held by the late Sarah Mateke, Kisoro’s woman MP and State Minister of Defence. This appeal comes in the wake of a somber farewell for the late minister, whose final journey was marked by both deep grief and a collective yearning for continuity in leadership.
On an emotional day filled with mourning, Sarah Mateke’s body arrived at Kisoro airfield, accompanied by a cadre of family members and local dignitaries, arriving via helicopter AF-623. The arrival, witnessed under the watchful eyes of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and Uganda Police, set the tone for a day of reflection and honor.
The procession continued to Bungahe village in Nyakabingo Sub-County, where a special council session convened to pay tribute to the late minister. Among the mourners was Eddy Kwizera Wangahungu, MP for Bukimbiri Constituency, who emphasized the importance of a unified approach in selecting a successor. Kwizera suggested that a consensus candidate from the Mateke family would honor the late minister’s legacy while saving the district from the costs and divisions of a by-election.
Echoing these sentiments, Steven Kasyaba, Chairperson of Rubanda District, called for solidarity in Kisoro, stressing that internal strife for the ministerial seat would be a disservice to both the district and the memory of Sarah Mateke. He urged that the focus should be on unity and respect for the Mateke family’s role in the Kigezi sub-region.
In addition to these discussions, the Kisoro LC5 chairman proposed a lasting tribute to the late minister: the construction of a stadium in Kisoro, to be named in her honor. This gesture, he argued, would serve as a perpetual reminder of Minister Mateke’s contributions and legacy.
During the council session, John Kamara Niziyemana, MP for Bufumbira North, nominated Ruth Nyiraneza, the late minister’s younger sister, as a potential successor. The nomination reflects the family’s central role in continuing the minister’s work.
As Kisoro prepares for the final rites of Sarah Mateke, to be held tomorrow in her home village of Bungahe, the district stands at a crossroads. The call for a consensus successor underscores a collective desire to honor the late minister’s legacy with dignity and unity