KAMPALA.
Rushenyi County legislator, Naomi Kabasharira and wife of fallen bush war hero Rtd Maj John Bashaija Kazoora has revealed that President Museveni assisted her husband during sickness .
Speaking during a funeral service at All Saints Church ,Nakasero on Wednesday , Ms Kabasharira said despite Kazoora disagreeing with Museveni on how he has superintended the country for nearly 40 years ,the latter did not keep any grudge against the retired soldier.
“Those people who went to the bush may have their differences, but when it comes to the health of one of them , they come in . His Excellency cannot sit back. When we needed financial assistance when John’s health’s health was deteriorating, President Museveni helped us ,” she said
She also revealed that when Kazoora breathed his last on Easter Monday, Mr Museveni called her on phone to console with the family.
“I don’t know how he got the information ,but he [Museveni] called me saying he had seen in the media that John has passed on , I said yes , it is true , he said he was with Mama[Janet] and she was listening and they both consoled me.” she added
She told mourners that Kazoora had suffered diabetes for 22 years .
“ He[Kazoora] was taken to Mulago Hospital for treatment, but the hospital could not manage his condition . He was referred to Nairobi Hospital.
He went there ,he was treated, got healed, and returned home to resume his duties. However, another diabetic episode hit him in 2021. At some point, he was in ICU for 17 days,” she revealed
Kazoora, his health compromised by years of battling illness and the medications that came with it, found travel arduous .He was in and out of hospital [Nakasero Hospital] in Uganda and Turkey. He remained at their home in Kigo, along Entebbe Road .
In his sold out memoir “Betrayed by my leader” ,Kazoora says he was inspired to join the NRA by President Museveni, who was in the December 10 -11,1980 elections a presidential candidate and lost ,but his ideals were appealing to the youths. However, in the same memoir , he criticizes him of having strayed from the principles that took them to the bush .
At Church, speaker after speaker gave heartfelt eulogies each offering their reflections on the life and contributions of Kazoora. The Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, former ethnics minister Miria Matembe and a host of legislators , government officials were in attendance .
Mr Tayebwa, who represented President Museveni, said the latter had handed him Shs10m as condolence money to give to the family. Tayebwa had a meeting with the president on Tuesday to collect the message to pass to the family and mourners on Wednesday.
“His Excellency the President requested me to represent him. But luckily enough, he told me he had spoken at length with the honorable Naome [Kabasharira – Kazoora’s widow] the day John passed. He gave me ‘mabugo’ (condolences) of 10 million, which I will pass on to the family,” Tayebwa told mourners.
The Deputy Speaker revealed that the President e was saddened by the death of one of his bush war comrades.
The Managing Director of Luweero Industries and former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj Gen Sabiiti Muzeyi described Kazoora as a patriot who served his country without expecting any reward.
“Honorable Kazoora’s life was marked with unwavering patriotism. We’ve been taught many times that patriotism is the willingness to sacrifice your life for your country when you expect no reward or no accolades, and these are people who were tested really. When they left [to join the bush war], I don’t think they expected ranks, I don’t think they expected to triumph.
I don’t think they expected even survival at the minimum. So, to them, we are deeply honoured to have such people who were able, under the leadership of the President Yoweri Museveni to contribute to the liberation of this country from the dangers that this country was facing,” he said
After the church service , Kazoora’s casket was conveyed directly to Rutooma in Kashari, Mbarara District, where he will be laid to rest on Thursday, with the burial ceremony commencing at 10:00 am.
Who is kazoora?
Born in Kashari Mbarara 69 years ago , Kazoora joined National Resistance Army (NRA) , now Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) in 1982 after graduating from Makerere University.
In his book Betrayed by my leader ,Kazoora says he was inspired to join the NRA by President Museveni, who was in the December 10 -11,1980 elections a presidential candidate and lost ,but his ideals were appealing to the youths.
During the bush-war he operated along Mityana-Mubende axis. When NRA captured power he was appointed Special District Administrator of Kampala. He was later posted to Internal Security Organisation(ISO).
He contested for Kashari Parliamentary seat in 1996 and became an MP.
He was one of the legislators who formed the parliamentary pressure group, Parliamentary Advocacy Forum (PAFO) in early 2000s whose majority members later formed the Forum for Democratic Change.