“When I saw Sarah lying helpless there, I said, God, maybe this is what God’s plan is. So, we seek solace and comfort from God and for us to be able to overcome this. That’s why we are comforted to be here to say bye to Sarah”.
Quoted above is a statement made by the Speaker of Parliament Anita Among Annet as she addressed hundreds of mourners on Monday afternoon.
They had gathered at the Ugandan Parliament to eulogize former Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi.
The Speaker recounted the first minutes upon receipt of the unpleasant news of the passing of Sarah Mateke who was also the Woman Member of Parliament for Kisoro District.
“On Saturday morning, when we learned of her death, I thought it was fake news. They said she’s badly off, and when they said she was badly off, Honourable Esther [Anyakun] called me and said, where are you? I told her, stop disturbing me very early. She said, get up. I got up. I didn’t have a driver. I didn’t have security. She said, don’t even shower, go. Esther was in Karenga. I did what Esther told me. I got up. I drove myself. No security”, recounted the Speaker.
The Deceased with Fellow Cabinet Members [Oboth Oboth and Hellen Adoa] in DRC Last Year
On reaching Mengo Hospital, she found the deceased lying lifeless prompting her to imagine if indeed she [Sarah Mateke] was the Honorable she had known.
Citing the book of Romans chapter 14, verse 8, Among encouraged fellow Parliamentarians to always live in the Lord and die for the Lord.
This the Speaker said would honor the deceased whom she described as her Sister who was so religious.
“You heard what the Archbishop said, she would always go to church, sit in a corner, and she was a very devoted Christian, and we loved her for that. In whatever we do, even when we are members of Parliament, we should always be near our Creator”, emphasized Among.
Son to the Deceased addresses Mourners at Parliament on Monday afternoon
It on the above basis that the Speaker preached love and honesty amongst Members of Parliament urging them to be each other’s keeper.
“It is very important for us as members of parliament at this time really to reflect. Honourable members, this is your family where you belong. Love each other. Be there for each other. Don’t waste any time in grudges, in fights, in wars. Have peace and love each other”, added Among.
She went on to say: ”It is love that brings us together. It is honesty that brings us together. And I want to assure the members of parliament that all of you, all of us, this is our home”.
The occasion also featured a Church Service Presided over by Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Reverend Samuel Stephen Kazimba Mugalu.
Other mourners including: Defense Minister Jacob Oboth Oboth, NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja among others expressed grief over the passing of Mateke whose political career had just began.
Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi was the Minister of State for Defense Affairs and also Woman Member of Parliament for Kisoro District in the Kigezi Sub region of Western Uganda.
She assumed the position of Woman MP in 2021 after defeating Rose Kabagenyi in the General elections.
A special sitting will be held on Tuesday in her honor before being transported to Kisoro on Wednesday for her final send off on Tuesday.