Arua to mourn Ayume for a week
May 18, 2004
ARUA district has declared a week of mourning for the late Attorney General and MP for Koboko county, Francis Ayume.
By Emmy Allio, Steven Candia and Dawin Dawa
ARUA district has declared a week of mourning for the late Attorney General and MP for Koboko county, Francis Ayume.
Flags will fly at half-mast and FM stations are expected to play solemn music. The decision was made by a funeral committee chaired by Arua resident district commissioner Alfred Ogaba.
Meanwhile, Parliament will hold an extra-ordinary session on Thursday to pay tribute to Ayume, who once was the Speaker of the Sixth Parliament.
“The body will arrive at Parliament at 10:00am for viewing and the signing of the condolence book, to 2:00pm when the proceedings of Parliament will commence,†Parliament clerk Aeneas Tandekwire said in a statement.
The body will lie in state in Parliament up to 9:00am on Friday. Thereafter, it will be taken to Namirembe Cathedral for a funeral service before being flown to Arua.
Eight working committees have been formed in Arua to plan the burial at Ayume’s village in Leiko.
President Yoweri Museveni is expected to attend the burial on Sunday.
The body will be delivered by air, information minister Nsaba Buturo said yesterday.
“We secured three aeroplanes to fly the body and dignitaries to Arua,†Buturo said yesterday after a burial meeting.
He said he was in touch with the widow, Elizabeth, who flies in on Thursday from the US with some of their children.
Ayume died on Sunday in a road accident in Kyangonwa, a black spot on the Kampala-Gulu highway. His bodyguard, Michael Geriga, died. They were said not to be wearing seat belts.
Anthony Butele, a former minister, and Ayume’s driver survived and are doing well at Mulago Hospital.
Museveni has ordered a state funeral for Ayume. A Cabinet committee is to coordinate funeral arrangements.
Yesterday, Movement vice-chairman Moses Kigongo sent condolences to the family.
He said Uganda had lost a dedicated son “at the time his services were mostly needed.â€
Foundation For Human Rights Initiative also sent condolences to the family.
The Police have not tracked down the killer truck, which knocked Ayume’s car.
Premier Apolo Nsibambi, minister Janat Mukwaya and first deputy premier Gen. Moses Ali turned up at Ayume’s home in Naguru.
Ends
ARUA district has declared a week of mourning for the late Attorney General and MP for Koboko county, Francis Ayume.
Flags will fly at half-mast and FM stations are expected to play solemn music. The decision was made by a funeral committee chaired by Arua resident district commissioner Alfred Ogaba.
Meanwhile, Parliament will hold an extra-ordinary session on Thursday to pay tribute to Ayume, who once was the Speaker of the Sixth Parliament.
“The body will arrive at Parliament at 10:00am for viewing and the signing of the condolence book, to 2:00pm when the proceedings of Parliament will commence,†Parliament clerk Aeneas Tandekwire said in a statement.
The body will lie in state in Parliament up to 9:00am on Friday. Thereafter, it will be taken to Namirembe Cathedral for a funeral service before being flown to Arua.
Eight working committees have been formed in Arua to plan the burial at Ayume’s village in Leiko.
President Yoweri Museveni is expected to attend the burial on Sunday.
The body will be delivered by air, information minister Nsaba Buturo said yesterday.
“We secured three aeroplanes to fly the body and dignitaries to Arua,†Buturo said yesterday after a burial meeting.
He said he was in touch with the widow, Elizabeth, who flies in on Thursday from the US with some of their children.
Ayume died on Sunday in a road accident in Kyangonwa, a black spot on the Kampala-Gulu highway. His bodyguard, Michael Geriga, died. They were said not to be wearing seat belts.
Anthony Butele, a former minister, and Ayume’s driver survived and are doing well at Mulago Hospital.
Museveni has ordered a state funeral for Ayume. A Cabinet committee is to coordinate funeral arrangements.
Yesterday, Movement vice-chairman Moses Kigongo sent condolences to the family.
He said Uganda had lost a dedicated son “at the time his services were mostly needed.â€
Foundation For Human Rights Initiative also sent condolences to the family.
The Police have not tracked down the killer truck, which knocked Ayume’s car.
Premier Apolo Nsibambi, minister Janat Mukwaya and first deputy premier Gen. Moses Ali turned up at Ayume’s home in Naguru.
Ends