Jinja, (UG): Jinja City authorities have unanimously passed a resolution to rename one of the roads in the City after former minister Henry Kyemba who passed away last week in Namugongo, Kampala.
The Deputy Jinja City Mayor, Ms Fazira Kauma moved a motion that was quickly adopted and will see Radio Road renamed Henry Kyemba Road.
The Speaker Jinja City, Mr Bernard Mbayo in his remarks said that although renaming the road will cause “some inconveniences”, especially amongst people who own property on the road, the Council, through Local Government guidelines, will handle everything.
The development came on Wednesday as the late minister’s body was presented at Jinja City Hall for last respects, which was attended by among others; his friends, political opponents, former classmates and workmates.
Jinja City Mayor, Mr 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 alleged brutality and reign of terror.
Ms Georgina Tumusiime, the President of the Rotary Club of Source of the Nile, which represented Rotary Clubs in Jinja to which Mr 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 a Rotary family are celebrating his time in services he held in several capacities. His integrity, care and love for humanity will always be cherished.”
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 the fight against corruption.
Kyemba, 84, served as Minister of Culture and Community Development in Former President Idi Amin’s government in 1972 and later as Minster of Health from 1973 to 1977.
In 1977, he fled to exile and only returned during President Museveni’s regime where he served as minister in various capacities.
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