Gen Aronda state funeral: In pictures

A state funeral service was Friday held at Kololo Independence grounds in Kampala for the late internal affairs minister, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima.

President Yoweri Museveni, the Commander in Chief of the armed forces, eulogized the departed general at the funeral service attended by friends, family, government officials, religious leaders, diplomats and the general public.

Aronda died last Saturday on his way back to Uganda from a foreign trip, and according to results from a post-mortem examination released Thursday, the minister died of an "acute heart failure due to extensive and irreversible blockade of the heart blood vessels".

A 17-gun salute will be accorded to the former army commander who will be buried on Sunday in Rukungiri.

Earlier, on Thursday, the body of the former Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) lay in state in Parliament where the House held a special sitting to honour the fallen minister, who also represented the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) as MP.

Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda moved the motion to pay him tribute.

He said: "Remembering and paying tribute to our colleague is imperative because it enables us to pause and reflect and acknowledge the outstanding, exceptional contributions made by this son of the nation in the short span of his life. It also enables us to take cognisance of his example for the present and future generations.

"The service and achievements of Gen. Aronda should not only be publicly known, but also collectively celebrated and emulated in our nation, Uganda," said the PM.

 

 As it happened . . .

 

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An armoured personnel carrier carrying a flag-draped casket of the late Gen. Aronda Nyakairima at Kololo. (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)

 

 

 

A 17-gun salute will  be accorded in honour of the late former army commander. (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)

 

 

 

Gen. Aronda was born on July, 1959 to Mr. Yeremiya Nyakairima and Gladys Nyakairima in Rukungiri district. (Credit: Damalie Nabbosa)
 

 

 

 

He died on Saturday September 12, 2015 at the age of 56. (Credit: Damalie Nabbosa)
 

 

 

 

President Yoweri Museveni arrives for the state funeral service on Friday. (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)

 

 

 

 

Archbishop of Church of Uganda Stanley Ntagali arrives for the funeral service. (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)

 

 

 

 

Top army brass wheeling the casket containing the body of the fallen army general. (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)

 

 

 

 

General Moses Ali, with a walking stick, arrives at Kololo Indpendence grounds for the funeral prayers. (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)

 

 

 

 

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The Inspector General of  Police (IGP) Gen. Kale Kayihura consoles Linda Nyakairima, the widow. (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)

 

 

 

A cross-section of diplomats  who attended the funeral service. (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)

 

 

 

Soldiers attended the funeral of their former commander. (Credit: Damalie Nabbosa)

 

 

 

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Rebecca Kadaga, the Speaker of Parliament, lays a wreath on the coffin of the late Aronda Nyakairima. (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)

 

 

 

 

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Gen. Katumba Wamala, the Chief of Defence Forces, greets mourners at the funeral. (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)

 

 

 

A diplomat consoles Linda, the widow at the funeral service. Aronda and Linda had two children together. (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)

 

 

 

 

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The Commander-in-chief of the armed forces, President Yoweri Museveni places a wreath on the casket of the former army commander. (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)

 

 

 

Vice president Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi also lays a wreath on the casket. (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)

 

 

 

 

The Uganda Police band playing during the funeral service at Kololo airstrip. (Credit: Damalie Nabbosa)

 

 

 

 

(Credit: Damalie Nabbosa)

 

 

 

 

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The widow, Linda, lays a wreath on the casket containing the remains of her beloved husband. (Credit: Damalie Nabbosa)

 

 

 

 

The children of the late army general lay a wreath on the coffin bearing the body of their father. (Credit: Damalie Nabbosa)

 

 

 

 

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Various dignitaries attended the funeral service. (Credit: Damalie Nabbosa)

 

 

 

 

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Police chief Gen. Kale Kayihura places a wreath on the flag-draped casket. (Credit: Damalie Nabbosa)

 

 

 

 

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Archbishop Stanley Ntagali at the dais during the prayers. (Credit: Damalie Nabbosa)

 

 

 

 

CDF Katumba Wamala speaks at the funeral of his predecessor on a hot day. (Credit: Damalie Nabbosa)