President Museveni lays a wreath on the casket containing Yona Namawa’s remains during prayers at All Saints Cathedral in Kampala as First Lady Janet looks on
President Yoweri Museveni and his wife, Mrs. Janet Museveni, were today part of the congregation that turned up at All Saints’ Cathedral Nakasero in Kampala to mourn the passing on of the late Yona Namawa Wapakhabulo who, earlier this week, succumbed to a bacterial infection that attacked his heart before spreading to his lungs.
He passed on at Platinum Medical Centre in Kampala last Monday aged 46 years old. He was son to former Parliamentary Speaker, late James Francis Wambogo Wapakhabulo and Ambassador Angelina Wapakhabulo. Rev. Canon Godfrey Byarugaba led the service.
In his remarks, the President said that though the late Namawa has passed on at a tender of 46 years old, he still lives because he has left behind children.
“I always have problems at funeral functions like this one. People repeatedly say God called the person that has died. I am not happy about it. Has God run short of company,” said Museveni.
President Museveni, however, challenged Ugandans to be very conscious of their health issues to live longer so that they exploit fully their talents, knowledge and other human resources before passing on.
“My question is always why does God call Africans so quickly! I don’t mind calling Africans but God should do it in an organized way for He created and commanded man to multiply to fill the earth and establish dominion over nature. But one of the problems is Africans’ being lazy to establish that dominion in order to manage disasters that are against life, such as floods and diseases which cause early death,” he said.
He expressed sadness at the death of Yona Namawa Wapakhabulo saying people should always strive to be healthy to live longer for others to exploit and benefit from their values maximally before death.
The widow, Dorothy Nasozi Namawa, said that being a Born Again Christian, she believes her husband has left earthly life and joined God in spirit. She urged everyone to take the same route of salvation. The children said they would miss their dad for he has been an all rounder for them.