Principled and straight: that was Zak Kaheru

By Anthony Mugeere and Jovita Ajuna A Nalubaale medallist is gone. Zacharia Kaheru Kwamya Rwabugoma, one of the pioneer members of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) died Monday in a hospital in Munich, Germany. The man, popularly known as uncle Zak is no more. He succumbed to a two and half months’ illness just when most of his friends and relatives thought he would win the battle. “Daddy’s death was so sudden, I cannot believe it happened,” said Charlotte Kaheru, the deceased’s eldest daughter, amid sobs. “I knew he was sick but I did not expect him to die so fast. It is one of those things you cannot believe happened yet it did,” she added. Joseph Biribonwa, the speaker of Bunyoro Kingdom says the country has lost a very social and kind person. “He was strict, principled and humble. He loved his family and was very good at sports especially tennis,” Biribonwa said. Death, they say, is the destroyer of worlds. If it was not, it would not have snatched Kaheru — a man described as “high up there but also very simple.” He was a down-to-earth man who always made everyone feel welcome in his home and office. Those who went to him for advice on issues like career guidance will surely miss a soft-spoken, family man. “He was so friendly that he would always switch a conversation to a topic where you feel comfortable. I admired the way he related to his wife and family and will always miss his advice,” said a family friend, in a sombre mood. Kaheru was guardian to many of his contemporary’s children from Bunyoro. And many new couples had their honey moon under the warm roof of uncle Zak and wife, Stella. On June 9, 2001, he was among the men and women who were awarded the Nalubaale medals for their contribution to the struggle. His brief was in the external wing of the resistance movement where he served as chairman of the publicity, finance and supplies committees. “Kaheru left his job and joined us in Nairobi where he was in charge of mobilising funds for the struggle,” says one of his long time comrades, now a director at the Movement Secretariat. “He solicited funds and supplies like drugs from members and sympathisers and also participated in the Nairobi peace talks. His death has robbed the Movement of another of its pillar and we shall miss him,” added the comrade. Dr. Jack Luyombya, one of the heroes who worked with Kaheru in the external wing in Nairobi says the fallen comrade was a principled freedom fighter who could not tolerate intrigue. At one moment when the going got tough for the group in Nairobi, Luyombya recalls, Kaheru was one of the people who had been secretly asked to go to Sweden where it was considered safer. But the soft-spoken Kaheru approached many of his colleagues (including Luyombya) to find out whether they were also included in the group. Luyombya told him he wasn’t and Kaheru decided to stay in Nairobi. “By revealing to me such a plan at a very difficult moment of the struggle and choosing to stay when I told him that I was not included on the trip, he proved that he is principled and straight-forward. It is one thing that will always come to my mind when I recall our time in the liberation struggle,” says Luyombya. Iganga LCV chairman, George Bageya lived in Nairobi when Kaheru was working in the East African Community. The two were close friends, met regularly and exchanged notes about the political and economic situation in Uganda. They were also the first Africans to break the colonial rules by joining the Impala Club, the most popular social and sports club in Nairobi at that time. “We were very close with Zak and I found him a very comfortable and accomodating person. He was also a very committed person to the liberation struggle and do hope that government recognises his contribution this time round,”says Bageya. Born on March 3, 1933, Kaheru went to Kabalega Secondary School, King’s College Budo and Makerere University. Those who knew him since his childhood days say his strong Christian family background was responsible for his strictness and discipline. “His father, the late Rev Zakayo Kwamya was a good disciplinarian. He was also highly respected and must have been a role model to his children, ” says Biribonwa. Kaheru joined the civil service soon after completing his Bachelor of Science degree from Makerere University. He rose through the ranks to become chief inspector of factories in the Ministry of Labour before joining the East African Railways and Harbours as regional manager for Uganda. Kaheru also worked as chief manager of East African Railways, Nairobi before returning to become executive chairman of the Export and Import Corporation, created after the 1969 declaration. “He stayed on for sometime but left to start his own business when Amin took over,” recalls a family member. Like many Ugandans, Kaheru found the political climate hostile and fled the country to join anti-Amin forces. He returned after the fall of the dictator and was appointed chairman of the Coffee Marketing Board. Kaheru was a founder member of the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) and once served as its secretary for finance. And when the NRM/NRA bush war broke out, he quit his Bugolobi job to join the external wing of the struggle. Upon liberation in 1986, Kaheru returned home not only as historical member of the NRM but also a member of the NRC Public Accounts Committee (PAC). As a member of the first PAC Committee, Kaheru was among the legislators who got the baptism of fire, when he led the crusade against corrupt public officials which had been unheard of at that time. Though soft spoken and often reserved, Kaheru and other NRC members laid the foundation for what is now one of the most important committees of parliament. “His approach was simple--just tell us the truth and we conclude the issue,”recalls a former member of the NRC, adding, “He could not lose his temper even when the going got tough.” In a 1989 Cabinet reshuffle, he was named Minister of Health-a post he held for the next five years. When he lost his Cabinet post, Kaheru concentrated on his Bulindi Limited—a general merchandise enterprise on Jinja Road. He was also a member of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). The body arrived yesterday and the funeral service will be held today (Saturday) at 10.00 p.m. at All Saints Cathedral, Nakasero. Burial will be held tomorrow(Sunday)in Bulindi, Hoima It is a trying moment for the family, relatives and in-laws of Kaheru. But as Herman Mankiewicz once said: “Death is the only disease you don’t look forward to being cured of.” He is survived by a wife, Stella and five children, two of them girls. Fare thee well uncle Zak. Ends