Gen. Aronda''s body arrives today

By Vision Reporter

The body of fallen Uganda’s internal affairs minister Gen. Aronda Nyakairima arrives today from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The 56-year-old former chief of defence forces (CDF) passed away suddenly last Saturday on his way back to Uganda.

Meanwhile, Cabinet has acknowledged and saluted the significant contribution made by Gen. Aronda to the country’s stability and the unity of the people of Uganda.

This was during a special meeting Cabinet held Tuesday specifically to pay tribute to the army general.

According to a statement issued from the Office of the Prime Minister, Cabinet also received a briefing from the task force led by defence minister, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga which is charged with the burial arrangements for Aronda.

The cabinet meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda.

“Cabinet acknowledged and saluted the significant contribution the late Gen. Aronda made to the country’s stability and the unity of the people of Uganda.

“Cabinet, however, noted that some elements of society, including some senior leaders in the country, were using the tragic passing on of Aronda to spread falsehoods, negative and sectarian sentiments aimed at inciting and dividing the people of Uganda. Cabinet strongly condemned such acts,” the statement added.

Kiyonga informed Cabinet that the Government had on September 12 2015 dispatched a team of doctors led by the chief of medical services in the UPDF, Dr. James Makumbi, together with two family members; Henry Ngabirano and Jolly Ngabirano, to Dubai to work with the authorities there to conduct investigations and repatriate the body.
 

A UPDF Official, Herbert Kijjala signs the condolence book at Kololo Indepence grounds. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

Burial arrangements

According to the statement, Cabinet also approved the burial arrangement plans as follows:
 

• Today, the body will arrive from Dubai

• Thursday, the body lies in state in Parliament for members to pay tribute to Gen. Aronda

• On Friday, a funeral service will be held at Kololo independence grounds

• Burial will now take place on Sunday in Rukungiri

Rugunda will move the motion in Parliament tomorrow to pay tribute to the fallen soldier. The motion will be seconded by the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Wafula Oguttu.

Aronda has represented the army in Parliament since 1996. He was born on July 7, 1959.

Survived by a wife Linda Kahooza Aronda and two children, Aronda joined the National Resistance Army in 1982 after completing his degree in political science at Makerere University.

In 2003, he was appointed army commander, a position he held until 2013 when he was replaced by Gen. Katumba Wamala.

Aronda was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs on May 23, 2013.

One of his major achievements at the ministry has been the implementation of the national identity card project that had stalled for years.

In the course of his military career, he was inducted into the International Hall of Fame at the Lewis and Clark Centre in Kansas, US for attaining the highest rank in the Ugandan military.



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