Ambassador Nyago lauds legendary politician Igantius K. Musaazi

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Uganda’s deputy high commissioner to South Africa, Kintu Nyago, has spoken highly of the late Ignatius Kangavve Musaazi, describing him as a seasoned nationalist and Pan-Africanist who devoted his life to the struggle for socio-economic rights and political independence of Uganda.

He praised Musaazi with even greater admiration for resisting the colonialists, who were exploiting Ugandans as they also stifled their political and economic potential.

Ambassador Elizabeh Sylvia Musaazi eulogises her dad I K Musaazi during his memorial lecture at the National Theatre on Wednesday, October 15.

“Ignatius K. Musaazi was potentially a man of means. He hailed from a privileged family. His father, Nehemiah Nankyama, was a chief and a general. Musaazi studied at King’s College Budo from where he went to England to train as a Church minister. But upon his return, he refused to be ordained, in opposition to the clerical injustices he found back home.

He then decided to devote all his life to activism against the oppressive and exploitative colonial systems.

“In 1938, he founded the Uganda Motor Drivers Association to counter the Indian transporters who had monopolised all the lucrative routes. In the 1940s, he mobilised local farmers and traders to oppose their deliberate exclusion from the value chain of their cash crops.

“But Musaazi eventually realised that social political and economic justice could not be achieved without political involvement. So, in 1952, he founded the first modern political party, the African National Congress, to kick out the colonialists and attain political independence,” Nyago explained.

He was delivering the keynote address for the I K Musaazi Memorial Lecture at the National Theatre in Kampala on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.

Uganda;s Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Kintu Nyago delivers the key-note address for the I K Musaazi Memorial Lecture at the National Theatre in Kampala on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.

The commemorative dialogue organised by I K Musaazi Memorial Foundation ran under the theme: Uncovering I K Musaazi’s Legacy; His Relevance and the Challenge of Communicating His Message to the Gen Z.

Be ready to sacrifice

Nyago later advised the young people (the Gen Zs) to emulate the late I K Musaazi’s ideals and examples. He advised them, among other things, to love their country and culture, to seek knowledge and to be ready to make sacrifices for the well-being and betterment of others.

“I K Musaazi was a nationalist. He was concerned about the needs of the people. He struggled for the underprivileged people. If he were around today, he would advocate for Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education. Politics is not about eating or sloganeering. It is not about shouting; 'Agende, Agende'.  It is about identifying and solving the problems of the people,” Ambassador Nyago advised.

Promote compassion

The Chairperson of IK Musaazi Memorial Foundation, Ambassador Elizabeth Sylvia Musaazi (a daughter of I K Musaazi), also asked Ugandans to promote the values of compassion, equality, justice and progressive leadership that her father cherished and fought for.

Revolutionary Band's Adungu maestro Charles Obina in action during the entertainment break.

Earlier at the start of the lecture, the Chief Whip and National political Commissar of FRONASA, Matovu Vianney Ngoma, also praised the late I K Musaazi for his patriotic consciousness.

He praised him with even greater admiration for his wisdom, which enabled him to form strategic partnerships with fellow activists such as James Kabazzi Miti, to advance their shared nationalistic agenda.

The event was enriched with an interesting panel discussion, during which teenage university students engaged Ambassador Nyago in a positive and objective discussion on Uganda’s political past, present and future, in light of the political legacy and examples of I K Musaazi.

The event was also spiced with musical performances from Charles Obina and his Revolutionary Band.