President Museveni has eulogised National Resistance Movement (NRM) cadre and former Kassanda North Member of Parliament, Haruna Henry Ssalabaya describing him as a great patriot .
In his farewell message delivered by Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba, the President said the deceased was a strong NRM supporter who loved to see agriculture given a first priority in the country.
“In 2008, when he was still a member of parliament, he raised an issue on the floor of parliament asking the government to make agriculture a compulsory subject in secondary schools. He pioneered the growing of coffee and worked hard during his leadership time to boost agriculture in Kassanda and Uganda at large,” the President’s message read in part.
He asked the deceased’s children to keep Ssalabaya’s legacy and emulate him and avoid family conflicts saying that is not what their father stood for.
“He was an advisor, provided guidance to whoever sought for it and loved his community. Ensure that you take good care of the widow and avoid land fragmentation. Work together on the land as a family.” The president gave the family Shs10 million to help with the burial arrangements.
Ssalabaya succumbed to cancer and internal organs failure on August 31at Nsambya hospital and was laid to rest on Saturday, September 02, at his home in Kassanda district.
In her remarks, Nabakooba applauded the deceased as a loving, caring, and welcoming person.
“He loved the NRM party whole heartedly and he has left us with a very big gap that will be hard to fill. I therefore ask you to pray for him and God forgives him for all his wrong deeds,” she told mourners.
The minister also acknowledged the deceased’s appeal to the President, of tarmacking Bukuya-kassanda road, which he made in 2018 during his meeting with President Museveni and said the government is working on the issue.
“It is unfortunate that the road will be constructed when he is no more but government even considered it in the NRM manifesto and it is on the designing stage,” the Minister revealed.
Nabakooba also urged Kassanda local leaders to mobilise the people to effectively participate in the government’s Parish Development Model pogram.
“I am told the program is still at 20 percent yet the money was disbursed on your account. I want to hear that prospective beneficiaries have got their money.”
She also revealed that government bought land for Kitumbi residents and surveyors came on ground to do boundary opening.
“There is another land at Kabulubuutu and Bukuyawhere boundary opening and valuation were concluded,” she said.
Ms Norah Ssalabaya, the widow, told mourners that the deceased died at a time when they needed him more and thanked God for his life.
“My husband has been a supportive father who ensured that he takes up all his responsibilities of taking good care of his children. He was a leader who loved the people of Kassanda and treasured development in his area,” she said.
Mr Isaac Kamulegeya, the son to the deceased also revealed to the mourners how his father was a great teacher who inspired him to join politics and he contested for Kassanda North MP seat in 2021.
