Special House session to pay tribute to Kakoma today

By Vision Reporter

Parliament holds a special session today (Thursday) to honour Prof. George Wilberforce Kakoma, the legendary composer of the national anthem.

His body will be taken to Parliamentary buildings before members of parliament pay tribute to the music professor who gave the nation one of its symbols as it gained independence from the British in 1962.

Recognizing him as a “great son” of the country, the Government on Monday announced that it would accord Kakoma an official burial and meet all burial expenses.

Information and national guidance minister Mary Karoro Okurut explained that the official burial will also involve a gun salute at burial, though she could not tell how many bullets will be fired.

Besides, the Government has also arranged for Kakoma a special funeral service at Namirembe cathedral on Friday at 10:00am before burial at his home in Kavumba, Wakiso on Saturday.

After being bedridden for close to six months, Kakoma, 89, died peacefully in his bed on Easter Sunday at his in-law's residence in Kololo, an upscale Kampala suburb.

He has since been eulogized profoundly especially by people of his generation, with some urging the Government to name him a national hero for composing the anthem.