The former ICT minister, Aggrey Awori has Saturday afternoon been laid to rest in his country home, located in Kibimba village in Buwuni town council in Bugiri district. Awori succumbed to COVID-19 on July 5th at the age of 82.
Nafula Awori, the deceased’s daughter says that prior to contracting COVID-19, Awori had been battling several health complications ranging from kidney failure to hypertension over the years.
She however, says that Awori’s condition worsened after testing positive for COVID-19 on June 19th.
“Mzee came for his usual routine checkups in Kampala in February and we conducted several checkups but, health workers advised us to retain him within the city center area for better management. However, he turned frail in June after contracting COVID-19,” added Nafula.
Baisama Awori, also one of Awori’s children says their father was a Pan Africanist who taught them unity in diversity.
“Our father was a Pan Africanist who sponsored us to study from different schools within the East African region, which continuously inserted in us the values of living together as Africans, irrespective of originating from different countries,” he says.
The President of Kenya, Uhuhu Kenyatta in a condolence message read at burial described the fallen legislator as a Pan Africanist. The message was delivered by Kenya’s former Ambassador to Japan, Denis Awori , also a member of the Awori family in Kenya.
“Awori was a Pan Africanist and leaders within the East Africa region should emulate him to foster both political and economic integration,” said Uhuru in a message delivered by Ambassador Dennis Awori Awori.
Meanwhile, Dokolo district woman MP Cecilia Ogwal says that Awori was a smart politician who laid foundation to foster East African political integration, despite facing endless criticism from different political actors within the country.
Ogwal further tasked members of parliament to agitate for Africa’s economic integration, as it will scrap off trade barriers and in turn foster smooth trade operations within the continent.
The ruling NRM was represented by former MP, Emmanuel Dombo. Dombo however arrived shortly after the late had been buried. A number of MPS from Busia and Bugiri attended the burial held as per the COVID-19 burial restrictions. URN