Kampala, Uganda: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni joined several senior Ugandan leaders in paying glowing tribute to Kenya’s former Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, who died of cardiac arrest on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in Kerala, India.
President Museveni, in a heartfelt statement posted via his official X handle on Wednesday evening, described Raila as a freedom fighter and Pan-Africanist, whose lifelong struggle for justice, democracy, and unity shaped the destiny of Kenya and the East African region.
“Rt. Hon. Odinga has not been just a career politician. He has been a freedom fighter, in the tradition of his late father, Jaramogi Odinga, the first Vice President of Kenya,” Mr Museveni, who spearheaded a dialogue between the late and Kenya’s President William Ruto, said.
He added that Raila and his father both stood for the ideals of patriotism and Pan-Africanism, emphasizing their consistent advocacy for the unity of East Africa and the entire continent.
“It is unfortunate that he has left at this moment. It is important for the young people to fill the void left by such historical fighters for Africa’s future.”
The President’s eulogy followed that of Uganda’s House Speaker, Rt Anita Annet Among, who also paid tribute to Odinga, praising him as a visionary who inspired unity and dialogue across the continent.
“We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Kenya as we mourn the loss of a leader whose influence reached far beyond the country’s borders,” Rt Hon Among said. “His passion for a united Kenya and his commitment to dialogue during times of political disagreement set a precedent for conflict resolution in the nation’s best interest.”
Among’s Deputy, Rt Hon Thomas Tayebwa, also eulogised the late Odinga as a “distinguished statesman in our region” whose diplomacy and selflessness benefited not only Kenya but the entire East African region.
“There are several instances when Raila quietly stepped in to help Uganda and Kenya maintain good relations,” Tayebwa noted. “From his life, we learn that there are moments when one must put the interests of their country first, something he did many times throughout his political career.”
Former Minister Capt. Mike Mukula, who is currently Chairman of the Pan African Movement, hailed Odinga as a revolutionary force and “a political giant whose legacy will remain immortal.”
In a heartfelt statement, Mukula said, “Raila Odinga was not just a political leader; he was a revolutionary, a man of immense courage and conviction. He embodied the spirit of resistance and the hope of renewal.”
To me, he was a dear friend and brother in the great Pan-African struggle for a better world. His struggle was not in vain—his spirit will forever walk among Africa’s greats.”
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