President Museveni Pays Tribute to Fallen Civil Servant, John Barisigara.

 By Naboth Isaac Niwagaba

RUBANDA: President Yoweri Museveni has paid tribute to the late John Barisigara the ICT Officer at the Ministry of Local Government who died in a Nasty Accident last week.

Museveni was on Sunday 26th March 2023 represented by the State Minister of Finance, general duties, Henry Musasizi as the Chief Mourner at the burial mass of the late Barisigara held , at St. Johns’ Ikumba Catholic Church in Hamurwa Town Coucil, Rubanda District.

In his condolence message read by Minister Musasizi who doubles as Rubanda East Mp, Museveni said he received with grief, the death of John Barisigara on Thursady last week. He described the late as a hardworking civil servant at the Ministry of local government, a strong pillar to his family in Kigezi subregion, and the country at large.

“I came to know the deceased’s family through his late father who was a member of parliament of Rubanda in the 1960s. My heartfelt condolences and sympathies go to you, the mother of the deceased, Mrs. Legis Barisigara, siblings, relatives and friends,” the President’s speech read in part.

Museveni’s condolence message was delivered with Ug. Shs. 10 million which was handed to the mother of the deceased. Minister Musasizi also delivered Ug. Shs. 5 million together with  a condolence statement from the Ministry of Finance that employs Joseph Barisigra, elder brother of the deceased.

Musasizi further revealed that President Museveni had pledged to support the unemployed grandchildren of Mrs. Legis Barisigara by either helping them to get jobs, or supporting them financially to set up their own business enterprises.

“After learning about the death of John, President Museveni told me he wanted to speak to the mother and comfort her, which I arranged. During the phone call with the President, she mentioned a few needs, and I have been to follow them up. One of the tasks is to collect the C.Vs of the grandchildren so that he (Museveni) can find jobs for them or support them with capital to begin their own businesses,” Musasizi said.

In their lengthy speech, Mrs. Peace Barisigara, wife of the deceased and her four children, described the late as a caring father who never delegated parental duties to anyone else.

The Kabale Catholic Diocesan Priest of Kakore Rugambwa Parish, Rev. Fr. Herbert Agaba presided over the burial mass, and he described the late John Barisigara as a committed Christian, leader, and cheerleader.

According to the Chairperson Rubanda District Service Commission who is also a member of the Barisigara Family, Dr. Narcis Kabatereine, the late John Barisigara met his death on the early morning of Thursday along Kampala – Iganga road as he moved to Karamoja on official duties. Police reports that his driver rammed into an incoming trailer as he tried to dodge a sugar cane track that was moving without lights, at night.

“They were following a sugar cane lorry that had no lights at the back. It apparently reduced speed and they realized that they were about to hit it from behind. The driver tried to swerve around the vehicle and overtake it on the right, but he clashed into an incoming trailer on the other side. The trailer crashed their car killing John on spot,” Kabatereine explained.

He added that the car was crashed beyond recognition, but the driver luckily survived with severe injuries, and he was responding well to treatment at Mulago National Referral Hospital.

Barisigara died at age 53. He was married for 19 years, producing two boys and girls with his wife Peace Barisigara. His body was laid to rest at their ancestral home in Karukara Parish, Hamurwa Subcounty, Rubanda District.