KAMPALA: Members of Parliament in the August house have eulogized the former Minister of Information, Communication, and Technology, Aggrey Awori as one of the vibrant legislators.
Awori, 82 died on Monday at a private hospital in Naalya, Kampala. During the sixth Parliament (2001 to 2006), he was voted best MP before losing his Samia-Bugwe North seat to Stephen Mugeni in the seventh Parliament.
After this loss, Awori was appointed by President Yoweri Museveni as Minister for Information, Communications and Technology from 2009 to 2011. Before joining Parliament, Awori served as the first local director of Uganda Television currently the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation-UBC in 1967.
Elijah Okupa, the Kasilo County MP described Awori as a brilliant legislator who did not only represent the country in politics but also sports.
While studying at Havard University on scholarship between 1961 and 1962, Awori who was first admitted to study nuclear politics and switched to political economics participated in sports activities and won events like the long jump, high hurdles and 60 yard dash. He is also remembered for representing Uganda at the 1960 Summer Olympics in the 110 metre hurdles and the 1964 Summer Olympics.
“The sports fraternity has lost because these were the first people to take Uganda to heights in sports especially when he competed in the Commonwealth games…so in the sports fraternity, it’s a great loss,” said Okupa.
Okupa also says that the media industry has also lost Awori who served the National broadcaster diligently.
He added that Parliament should convene and pay tribute to Awori who is a resource to the country, family and culture.
Stephen Tashobya, the former Kajara County MP said that the death of Awori is a big loss to his family, the people of Busia, Uganda and the East African Community.
“The late Awori had a very big profile, not only in Uganda but in the whole region and Africa. He was a very meticulous, very articulate legislator who stood for his point of view and he would tell it to you the way he thought it. He would never waver on his point in parliament and would never go into unprincipled compromises,” said Tashobya.
Tashobya currently serving as a Commissioner at the Electoral Commission (EC) emphasized that all through his political leadership, the late Awori stood up for the good of the country and the people.
Aisha Kabanda, the Butambala Woman MP described the late Awori as an eloquent politician and played a very instrumental role in upholding UPC regardless of his decision to join NRM.
The former Kampala Resident City Commissioner also says that the late Awori’s time in parliament was well spent and that he effectively represented the people.
The late Awori attended Nabumali High School in Mbale and King’s College Budo where he was selected for elite military officers training at Sandhurst Military College in the United Kingdom. He also had a Master of Arts in Economics from the United States’ Syracuse University which he achieved in 1967.
Awori was born in Budimo village in Busia district, at the Uganda-Kenya border and was married to Thelma Awori with whom they have six children.
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