National prayers for Kategeya at Kololo

By Moses Walubiri

Departed First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Eriya Kategeya, will be accorded a National Thanksgiving Prayer Service at Kololo ceremonial grounds on Wednesday "in honor of his highly significant contribution to the nation," government has announced.  

Announcing a change in the burial program initially issued by government, the chairman of the burial committee and Minister of Presidency, Frank Tumwebaze, said the National Prayer Service will be open to the public between 9:00am to noon.  

Although the long serving senior Cabinet minister is scheduled to be accorded an official burial on Thursday, Tumwebaze clarified that there will be no public holiday.

"An official burial doesn't mean that a public holiday will be observed," Tumwebaze told journalists at the Media Center on Monday.  

Government had initially planned a requiem mass for the honorary UPDF Brigadier at All Saints Cathedral Nakasero.  

However, the change in venue appeared to have been due to huge number of people expected to turn up to pay homage to Kategaya.

Parliament will on Tuesday afternoon pay tribute to the man to whom the legislature was his second home for the last 27 years, either as a legislator or a minister (Ex-officio).

In a related development, Kategaya has borrowed a leaf from departed renowned industrialist, James Mulwana, in barring wreaths on his casket.

There will be no laying of wreaths at parliament, National thanksgiving service at Kololo, or during his burial at Itojo, Ntungamo district. This, Tumwebaze said, is "in accordance to the wishes of the deceased."

"Those who were close to him in life or in his last moments have made it very clear that this is his wish," Tumwebaze said briefing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre.