Rwendeire laid to rest

Rugunda laying a wreath on Rwendeire's casket

Hundreds of mourners on Sunday thronged Kibuzigye Primary Schoool playground in Bubare sub-county, Rubanda district for the burial of Dr Abel John Julian Rwendeire.

The late Rwendeire prior to his death was the chairperson of the Makerere University Visitation Committee and deputy-chairperson of the National Planning Authority (NPA).

Rwendeire died on Thursday while being rushed to Nakasero Hospital in Kampala.

Addressing mourners, the Prime Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, hailed the late Rwendeire for being patriotic in his lifetime.

Rugunda said Rwendeire was essential in uniting Kigezi people and cherished service above self.

"There used to be a lot of religious sectarianism in the region, but Rwendeire helped us in having it resolved. We shall miss his wisdom," said Rugunda.

He also revealed that President Museveni offered a state burial for Rwendeire and that Parliament will pay tribute to him as soon as they resume from recess.

The Prime Minister was escorted by Godfrey Kiwanda Ssubi, the state minister for tourism and Ruth Nankabirwa, the Government Chief Whip.                 

Mercy Rwendeire, the widow, eulogised her husband as a loving man who encouraged girl-child education.

"My husband was enthusiastic about educating his daughters. They all have degrees and he has been encouraging them to pursue more studies," she said.

The widow further explained the sudden death of her husband which she said left them in great shock.

"His death was shocking. We were watching television together when he told me he was experiencing chest pain.

"Upon realising that he was not talking, I called our neighbours who assisted us to take him to hospital, but doctors told us he was already dead," she added. 

Meanwhile Nankabirwa threw mourners in a state of controversy when she used the platform to rally support for the proposed amendment of the presidential age limit.

Nankabirwa said God set a natural age-limit for everyone, which happens upon death and called on the masses to avoid discussing age-limit since it is not controlled by human beings.

"If we all understand that there is a natural age-limit that God directs why should we waste time discussing the age-limit? Let us uplift it and wait for God to decide the rest," said Nankabirwa.

This attracted disagreement from some of the mourners who started heckling her.

About Rwendeire

Rwendeire was born on October 1, 1951 to John Kanyungunyugu and the late Julian Kanyungunyugu in Kibuzigye Bubaare sub-county in Rubanda district.

He began his education at Kibuzigye Primary School then to St Pauls Seminary Rushrooza for his O'level before joining St Henry's Kitovu for A' level.

He then joined Makerere University. He also held a PhD in Biochemisrty obtained in 1985 from the University of Canterbury in New Zeland. 

Rwendeire was as senior lecture at MUK from 1986 to 1996. He was appointed as principal of Uganda Polytechnic Kyambogo a post he held till 1996.

Rwendeire was a Member of Parliament representing the people of Rubanda County East constituency in Kabale district from 1996 to 2002.

Rwendeire served as a minister of state for tourism, trade and industry (1996-1998 and 200-2001) and minister of state for higher education (1998-2000).

He joined NPA in July 2008 following his four year tenure as a managing director at the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, (UNIDO), in Vienna, Austria (2002- 2006).