Kanyomozi, the man who loves cooperatives laid to rest
NTUNGAMO-Different dignitaries, politicians, cooperators, religious leaders, educationists, and members of the general public from across the country yesterday turned up in big numbers to send off the late Yona Kanyomozi, a cooperatives advocate who died last Sunday of diabetes.
According to mourners, his children, and friends, Yona Kanyomozi deserved a decent burial for his contribution to the country, especially working hard to see that cooperatives thrived during Obote II government.
Sabiti Kamugisha, Yona Kanyomozi’s elder son revealed that his dad died of diabetes, a disease he battled for some time.
He asked mourners to forgive the wrongs his father could have done in the community and prayed for him an eternal life.
The economist died on August 28 at Nakasero Hospital in Kampala.
Background
Yona kanyomozi was born on June 29, 1940 at Rukindo Village Eastern division Ntungamo Municipality, Kanyomozi, a soft-spoken gentleman served as the Member of Parliament for Kajara County from 1980 to 1997 with a break between 1986- 1987 when parliament was in suspension.
He lived in Rwashamaire town council where he was laid to rest today on September 2.
He studied at Katunga Primary School in Rukungiri District. He later joined Mbarara High School and is one of the pioneer students of Ntare School which he joined in 1956, a year it was started.
In 1963, he joined London School of Economics and in 1966 he was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Economic Theory.
The UPC stalwart, between 2001 and 2006, represented Uganda at the East African Legislative Assembly EALA.
He became the minister of Cooperatives from 1981 to 1985 under Obote’s government spearheading a great breakthrough in cooperatives that had died out during the 8 years of Idi Amin Dada.
He also represented Bushenyi South in parliament during the same regime. From 1989 to 1996 he represented Kajara County in the National Resistance Council.
He rose in the ranks of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) to become National Chairman. His last leadership position was as a member of the East African legislative assembly in 2006. His last attempt to bounce back to politics was in 2011 when he stood for Ntungamo Municipality MP on FDC ticket but lost to Mr Yona Musinguzi of NRM.
Besides his political career, Kanyomozi served as an economic advisor to the defunct Uganda Electricity Board [UEB] from 1966 to 1970, Director of Industrial Development Centre from 1970 to 1972, Assistant General Manager of the East African External Telecommunications Company from 1972 to 1977, Associate Consultant at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, among others.
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