Ugandans eulogise Aronda's sister, Jolly Ngabirano

Feb 14, 2018

She passed on last week in Germany where she was referred to for treatment of the cancer of the pancreas, according to her husband, Henry Ngabirano.

Many people converged at All Saints' Cathedral, Nakasero, Kampala to pay their last respects to the late Jolly Twebaze Ngabirano, sister to the late Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, a former minister of internal affairs.

She passed on last week in Germany, where she had been referred for treatment of the cancer of the pancreas, according to her husband, Henry Ngabirano. She will be buried on Thursday at Kyafora in Rukungiri district.

The church filled to capacity as well as tents erected outside. Mourners started arriving as early 9:00am.


 enry gabirano and the children laying a wreath on the casket of the ate olly gabirano Henry Ngabirano and the children laying a wreath on the casket of the Late Jolly Ngabirano

 
A number of dignitaries attended the funeral service, including the Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, former Premier John Patrick Amama Mbabazi, Sam Kutesa the Foreign Affairs Minister, Minister for Security Gen. Henry Tumukunde, and former Minister of Information and National Guidance, Gen. Jim Muhwezi.

"We have lost a working mother," says Phillip Beitwa, one of the employees at Café PAP. Jolly owned a string of coffee shops in Kampala under the name Cafe Pap.

At the time of her death, Ngabirano operated a chain of restaurants across the country, including Heritage Coffee and Ihamba Lakeside for tourists.

The premier, Rugunda urged Ugandans to emulate Ngabirano, who helped government to create employment, offered internships to students among others.

"Jolly has been welcoming to everyone. She has served as a motivational figure, succeeded in promoting tourism in the country and above all, created jobs for people. We should emulate her," Dr. Rugunda said.

While leading the service, Rev. Dr. Edward Muhima, a retired Bishop of  North Kigezi Diocese, urged people to always Pray to God for family and businesses, adding: " Blessed are those who die and die in the Lord. Jolly has been successful and she is with God now,"

The family mourn

And to the widower, Henry Ngabirano, it was time to share great memories of what they had gone through until the time of his wife's death.

"We lived a happy life, praising God all time. My wife loved God even on her death bed. I saw my wife souring in pain since 2016. She went through all kinds of treatment at different hospitals in the country and abroad to get back on her feet," he shared as tears rolled down his face.

"I felt pain when I saw my wife feeding through a tube. I prayed to God for guidance. I know Jolly is with God," he added.

The late Jolly Twebaze Ngabirano got married to Henry Ngabirano in 1988 and they have three children.

The eldest daughter Philipa Itabaza, who spoke on behalf of her siblings, said: "I am truly grateful for the love you showed us every day for we were blessed with the greatest pair. Words cannot explain how I am grateful to call you my mother."

Her background

Jolly Twebaze Ngabirano was born in a pastoralist and devoted Christian family to Gladys and Yeremiah Nyakairima on May 21, 1961 in Nyakiju village, Buyanja sub-county, Rukungiri district.

rime inister uhakana ugunda and his wife laying a wreath on the casket of the ate olly gabirano Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda and his wife laying a wreath on the casket of the Late Jolly Ngabirano

 
She was the eighth born in the family of 10 children.

All her siblings have since passed on except Yona Kamurasi, who has been the living eldest brother to the deceased and only surviving member of the Nyakairima family.

"I wish my sister would be made a saint, what a loving a person I had," Kamurasi said.

Her career

She attended Nyakaina Primary School, Rukungiri for her primary school before joining Marry Hill High School where she sat for senior four and six exams.

Between 1982 and 1985, Ngabirano joined Makerere University where she graduated with a degree in Political Science.

She began her career with the Coffee Marketing Board, shortly afterwards she attended a one-year course in Nairobi in Public Administration and later returned to work as a Personal Assistant to the Board Secretary.

Ngabirano later joined Uganda Revenue Authority as the Principal Revenue Officer a position she held until 2003.

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