The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating household poverty, saying Uganda’s transformation into a middle-income economy depends on improving the incomes of ordinary citizens.
Tayebwa made the remarks on Friday during the requiem Mass for the late Mary Bazirakye, wife of former Kabale Southern Division LC III Chairperson and former Kabale District NRM Vice Chairperson Louis Bazirakye, held at Christ the King Parish in Kabale Municipality.
Tayebwa said the people of Kigezi are fortunate to have the Minister of Finance Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi Ariganyira, whom he described as a dedicated leader championing government programmes aimed at lifting households out of poverty.
Tayebwa urged residents to work closely with Minister Musasizi and other elected leaders and fully embrace government wealth creation initiatives, noting that sustainable development can only be achieved through collective effort and active community participation.
Commenting on the stalled Kabale–Lake Bunyonyi road project, Tayebwa assured residents that the government is in the process of terminating the contract of Samcrete Egypt Engineers and Contractors for failing to execute the works as expected.
He explained that the contractor was procured under the African Development Bank (AfDB) procurement guidelines because the project is financed by the bank, leaving the government with limited opportunity to independently assess the contractor’s capacity before the contract was awarded.
Tayebwa revealed that the government has already written to the African Development Bank seeking approval to replace the contractor with a more competent firm to complete the project. He dismissed fears that public funds had been lost, assuring the public that the money allocated for the road remains available and will be utilised once a new contractor is procured.
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Paying tribute to the deceased, Tayebwa described Mary Bazirakye, who was his maternal aunt, as a humble, faithful and hardworking woman who lived an exemplary life. He urged mourners to emulate her virtues by living lives of integrity, service and faith so that they too would leave behind a positive legacy.
Speaking during the service, Louis Bazirakye described his late wife as a dedicated teacher, loving mother and dependable partner who played a central role in raising their family and supporting his leadership responsibilities. He said they had been married since 1968 and that Mary had courageously battled stroke since 2007 with remarkable resilience and unwavering faith.
In his homily, the Vicar General of Kabale Diocese, Monsignor John Vianney Sunday, said burying the dead is a Christian obligation and an act of compassion towards grieving families. He noted that while a funeral Mass is not a canonisation of the deceased, it provides an opportunity for the Church to acknowledge and appreciate the good works a Christian accomplished during his or her lifetime.
Monsignor Sunday described the late Mary as a woman of unwavering faith who remained prayerful and devoted to God throughout her prolonged illness. He reminded Christians that God never abandons His people; rather, it is people who drift away from Him. He urged the faithful to remain steadfast in their relationship with God despite life’s challenges.
He also commended the Bazirakye family for the love, unity and care they demonstrated throughout Mary’s illness, saying their commitment to supporting one another reflected the true strength and dignity of a Christian family. He contrasted their example with families often divided by conflict and misunderstandings and encouraged Christians to emulate the unity and compassion exhibited by the Bazirakye family.
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Mary Bazirakye was born on 23 February 1937 and passed away on 28 July 2026 at the age of 89. During her distinguished career in education, she taught at Myumbu Primary School, Kabanyonyi Primary School, Buhara Primary School and St. Mary’s Boys Primary School. Beyond the classroom, she served as the Female Councillor representing Older Persons in the former Kabale Municipal Council, where she continued her lifelong commitment to community service.
