By Denis Edema
Authorities in Jinja have unanimously passed a resolution and renamed one of the roads in the city after former minister Henry Kyemba, who passed away last Wednesday in Namugongo,a Kampala suburb, aged 86.
The Jinja City deputy Mayor, Ms Fazira Kauma, moved the motion that was quickly adopted and will see Radio Road renamed Henry Kyemba Road.
Mr Kyemba’s body yesterday laid at Jinja City Hall where the city council officials paid their last respects. The council session was attended by, among others, Kyemba’s friends, politicians, former classmates and workmates. Jinja City Speaker Bernard Mbayo said although renaming the road will cause “some inconveniences”, especial- ly among people who own property on the road, Council, through Local Government guidelines, will handle every- thing.
Col (Rtd) Tony Otto, a friend of the deceased for more than 30 years, said the two had a good time and both stood for Member of Parliament for Jinja West, and although Kyemba beat him to the seat, they kept their friendship.
Ms Georgina Tumusiime, the president of the Rotary Club of Source of the Nile, which represented Rotary Clubs in Jinja to which Kyemba was a member and served as district governor, said the government should recognise the late Kyemba by putting up a library in his memory.
She said: “We as Rotary family are celebrating his time in services he held in several capacities. His integrity, care and love for humanity will always be cherished.”
Jinja City Mayor Peter Okocha Kasolo said he first met the deceased before joining politics when he accompanied a friend for an interview, adding that he has learnt a lot from his book, A State of Blood, in which he chronicles eyewitness accounts of president Idi Amin’s al- leged brutality and reign of terror. Ms Janet Kyemba, the widow, thanked the government for giving her husband a decent burial, adding that throughout his life, he has been at the forefront of fighting corruption.
