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Plain textEXCLUSIVE: Butime Buried Amidst Political Drama
The remains of former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Chairman John Butime was on Monday laid to rest at his ancestral home in Nyamwandara village, Katoke sub-county, Kyenjojo district.
At the burial ceremony, the FDC Vice President Salaamu Musumba said the opposition group had come to claim back Butime because he was one of the party’s founders.
Musumba shocked mourners when she revealed FDC could not allow the ruling NRM party to bury their stalwart.
Musumba described Butime as a simple, honest and courageous man.
She said the departed politician gave FDC his best when very few Ugandans could dare joining opposition.
“You had a great son who offered FDC extraordinary leadership, a position many feared at the time. He was a brave man and as FDC we have come to claim him as our party member. We claim him as our pioneer Vice Chairperson and the struggle he participated in will continue through us,” Musumba told mourners.
However, Musumba‘s remarks did not go down well with the Kyenjojo district LCV chairperson James Byamukama who reiterated that Butime went to FDC to test what kind of leadership the opposition had, and found that it not sweet before returning to NRM.
“In death we are equal and there is no debate that Butime died as historical member of NRM. He went to FDC to test but found the results bad; that’s why he came back,” said Byamukama.
Butime, who in 2009 crossed to the ruling NRM, succumbed to asthma, diabetes and hypertension.
President Yoweri Museveni, in a speech read by ICT Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, described Butime as a distinguished leader, adding NRM was privileged to work with him.
“He had a wealth of knowledge which he shared with us and he had his country at heart,” said the President.
Museveni contributed Shs10m towards the burial expenses.
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Updated on 2013-05-09 09:25 |
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