President Museveni Urges Leaders to Prioritize Health During Eulogy for Late Nyirabashitsi

Speaker Anita Among thanked the President for his continued support during moments of grief, noting this as the fifth time he had stood with Parliament in such times.

President Yoweri Museveni has urged leaders to prioritize their health, warning that their sudden passing can leave significant gaps in leadership and create challenges for the country. Museveni made these remarks while eulogizing the late Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi, former Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs (Defence), during a special parliamentary session on 10 September 2024.

Museveni emphasized the importance of regular health check-ups, reflecting on Nyirabashitsi’s passing and recalling a similar loss in 2015 when Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, the former Minister of Internal Affairs, died from a pre-existing condition. Both Nyakairima and Nyirabashitsi had been scheduled to travel to South Korea for security conferences.

"The fighters should also look out for their lives, not as just theirs, but for all of us, because when you go, you leave us in problems," Museveni remarked, noting the difficulty in filling the void left by leaders.

Though Museveni had limited interactions with Nyirabashitsi, he described her as a calm and careful leader, highlighting her role in the inter-ministerial committee on the Uganda-Congo border. He acknowledged her impact as a dedicated representative of Kisoro District.

Speaker Anita Among thanked the President for his continued support during moments of grief, noting this as the fifth time he had stood with Parliament in such times.

Nyirabashitsi, who passed away on 07 September 2024, will be buried in Nyakabingo, Kisoro, on 12 September 2024. She leaves behind a son and a legacy of dedicated service to her constituency.