Parliament has paid tribute to the fallen State Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs, Sarah Mateke.
Mateke succumbed to a heart attack at Mengo Hospital. Earlier today, Parliament convened to pay tribute to the slain legislator.
The motion to pay tribute was moved by the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, and seconded by the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, and Defence Minister Jacob Markson Oboth.
During the plenary, the Prime Minister said the late has been a dedicated patriot in serving her country and the people of Kisoro in particular after living as a role model from her youthful days.
Nabbanja noted that non-communicable diseases have become another life-threatening condition to society, robbing the country of game changers in development like Mateke.
Oboth said Mateke was not only smart and loyal but capable of executing assignments even at the international level. This government has lost a committed, selfless minister.
“Sarah Mateke was an eloquent leader who represented the ministry in several international military defense diplomacy engagements,” he said.
LoP Ssenyonyi called on leaders to emulate the corrupt-free service that late Mateke rendered to the country.
“I did not hear Mateke’s name embroiled in any corruption scandal during her service; if there was one, then I probably missed it.”
Speaker Anitah Among said the painful reality has now dawned on us that our beloved colleague is no more. “Death is so cruel. Indeed, we are living a borrowed life. Death is indeed a bad reaper. Always snatching the unripe fruit. Mateke has left us at a prime age and at a time when this nation needs leaders with courage, compassion, affection, teamwork, and commitment” she said.
Adding “As we grapple with the pain of her demise, let us also celebrate her life. Whereas the Lord has called her at a prime age, let us be comforted by the impact her works have had on society. We need to pray for ourselves and for each other for the protection and favor of the Lord so that we are able to serve our people and the nation sustainably. The late Mateke was committed to the plight of children and youth, as evident in the passion with which she tabled legislative business for the social development sector,” she said.
Among said, Mateke has left three major projects incomplete, notably the Kanyamatekye Bridge in Bufumbira North, which connects to the DR Congo, the rehabilitation of Buhoozi Health Centre II, and the construction of a men’s ward at Nyarusiza Health Centre III.
She urged the prime minister and the Minister of Finance to ensure that the required resources are allocated for the completion of the said projects because this money was allocated in this financial year.
