Parliament honours Brig. Noble Mayombo

By Josephine Maseruka And Steven Candia

HUNDREDS of grieving Ugandans flocked Parliament to pay tribute to the late Brig. Noble Mayombo yesterday. Tears flowed as an endless stream filed past in homage to a man acclaimed by the Government and opposition for his brilliance and sacrifice.

They paid respect to the soldier while his voice in passionate debate was being played over the public address system and a life-size portrait of a beaming Mayombo was displayed, creating an impression of his real presence.

“We (UPDF) have never sat in a multi-party Parliament and we don’t know how it works and we want to know how it works,” his voice, as he debated on the floor of the Sixth Parliament, rang out.

Only moments earlier, the casket draped in UPDF flag, containing his body had been delivered to the steps of the House by 11 pole-bearers – all brigadiers and placed in the foyer for public viewing.

The speaker and his deputy, several top army officers, ministers and MPs received the body while the UPDF brass-band played hymns.

Canon James Rwaboni 79, Mayombo’s father, sat next to his daughter-in-law, Juliet. Present were also his six children, Charlene Komuntale (16), Samora Olimi (15), Isabelle Byanjeru (12), Natalie Kabasweka (4), Nicole Kamukyeya (2) and Noble Junior Kamurasi (1).

Philip Winyi, Mayombo’s elder brother, on behalf of the family, said the deceased had been the “Commander-in-Chief of the family”. He described his brother as loving, giving, cheering, courageous and a perpetual problem-solver.

Mayombo was the seventh of 12 children. Their mother, Beatrice Rwaboni Abwooli, died in 1997.

Several dignitaries signed condolence books among them the Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya who wrote: ‘Our good friend, you are physically gone but you will remain with us comrade”. Rebecca Kadaga, the deputy speaker, noted: “I will miss your roguish smile, the focused contribution in Parliament and your spirit of Pan–Africanism.”

General Elly Tumwine added: ‘Great are the faithful to the country who give whatever it takes to make the rest of the citizens enjoy their life. Noble gave the ultimate sacrifice, his life, time, knowledge and all. The name Noble lined a noble life to make all of us proud of him, of UPDF, of Uganda and of Africa. The struggle continues.”

The Cuban Ambassador, Hanano Fores, wrote: “You will remain forever in the hearts and minds of all fighters. The Cuban people will remember you as a great friend and permanent fighter for the good of your people and Africa.”

The House, in a special session, debated a motion in recognition of the immense contribution of Brig. Mayombo, a senior UPDF officer, freedom fighter, politician, an intellectual and dedicated senior civil servant.

The motion was moved by the Minister for General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister, Adolf Mwesige and seconded by the defence minister, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga.

There was total silence and all MPs rose when the casket was brought into the chamber, where Mayombo had been an army representative for 10 years.

Speaker after speaker praised the Brigadier for his service to the nation.

Parliament Speaker Edward Ssekandi described him as a very young, brilliant, eloquent person whose death had devastated the country.

Reading out a motion, which was later passed unanimously, minister Mwesige said Mayombo was an “illustrious member of the Sixth and Seventh parliaments, who is remembered as a very prolific and articulate representative of the UPDF.”

He noted that the late brigadier was “not only instrumental in the liberation of the country but also held responsible positions in the army as Chief of Military Intelligence, Aide de Camp to the President and PS in the Ministry of Defence.”

He observed that Mayombo was “one of the framers of the 1995 Constitution, when he served as a member of the Constituent Assembly from 1993 to 1995, where he distinguished himself as an effective analyst and debater of legal and political issues.”

In the motion, Mayombo was also recognised for “his invaluable experience and articulation of issues as an advocate of the High Court of Uganda” and his “intellectualism and leadership skills.”

“The late Brig. Noble Mayombo indeed dedicated all his life to liberate and serve his country men and women and therefore deserved Parliament recognition,” the text read.

In the conclusion, the Parliament recognised him for his contribution to Uganda and Africa as a “freedom fighter, politician, senior officer of the UPDF, lawyer, intellectual, member of the Constituent Assembly, member of Parliament and permanent secretary.”

Janet Museveni said she had an opportunity to watch Mayombo from very close when he was President Museveni’s Aide-de-Camp.

“I admired him for his love for the president and dedication to his work. He became very close to my children. The tragedy of Mayombo has robbed Uganda of a great fighter, the UPDF of a great soldier and the family of an irreplaceable son, brother and husband. It has shown us that his death and grief has united many Ugandans of good will. We have all come together to mourn him.”

Aston Kajara described Mayombo as a person who had both military and political skills. “He wielded private and public influence and he was a leading patriot. His contribution cannot be disputed.

Okot Ogong (Dokolo) said Mayombo was their flag-bearer while at Makerere University and called on the younger generations to dedicate themselves to fighting corruption in Mayombo’s memory.

Several institutions and individuals sent condolence messages, including the Indian Association of Uganda and the Mehta Group.

Additional reporting by Felix Osike and Milton Olupot