The former ICT minister and legislator, Aggrey Awori was yesterday Saturday laid to rest at his country home in Kibimba village, Bugiri district in eastern Uganda. Awori succumbed to COVID-19 on July 5 aged 82.

Nafula Awori, the deceased’s daughter says that prior to contracting COVID-19, Awori has been battling several health complications ranging from kidney failure to hypertension over the years. She, however, says that Awori’s condition worsened after testing positive for COVID-19 on June 19. 

“Mzee came for his usual routine checkups in Kampala in February and we conducted several checkups but, health workers advised us to retain him within the city center area for better management. However, he turned frail in June after contracting COVID-19,” added Nafula.

Baisama Awori, also one of Awori's children says their father was a pan-Africanist who taught them unity in diversity. 

“Our father was a pan-Africanist who sponsored us to study from different schools within the East African region, which continuously inserted in us the values of living together as Africans, irrespective of originating from different countries,” he says.

Even Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta in a condolence message read at the burial, described the fallen legislator as a pan-Africanist. The message was delivered by Kenya's former Ambassador to Japan, Denis Awori, also a member of the Awori family in Kenya.

"Awori was a pan-Africanist. Leaders within the East Africa region should emulate him to foster both political and economic integration' said Uhuru. Awori's elder brother Moody Awori was once Kenya's vice president Moody Awori between 2003 and 2008. 

Meanwhile, Dokolo district Woman MP Cecilia Ogwal says that Awori was a smart politician who laid foundations to foster East African political integration, despite facing endless criticism from different political actors within the country.

Ogwal further tasked members of parliament to agitate for Africa’s economic integration, as it will scrap off trade barriers and in turn foster smooth trade operations within the continent.

Awori's neighbours and constituents were kept away from the burial as per the COVID-19 regulations. He was buried in a grave he dug for himself 10 years ago. - URN/The Observer