Old Guards Unite to Salute Major John Kazoora for Service and Integrity

A solemn but stirring farewell unfolded on Wednesday at All Saints Cathedral Nakasero, where family, friends, and dignitaries gathered to honour the life of Major (Rtd) John Kazoora, a soldier, legislator, and statesman remembered for his unwavering commitment to service and principle.

He died on April 20, aged 66.

Bishop Hannington Mutebi led the funeral service, which brought together a cross-section of Uganda’s political and social leadership.

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, Inspector General of Government Beti Kamya, former Chief Justice Bart Katureebe, and former Attorney General Fred Ruhindi were among those who came to pay their respects.

Speaking on behalf of President Museveni, Tayebwa referred to Kazoora as “Uncle John,” describing him as a man who built bridges even where politics drew lines.

The President contributed Shs10 million towards the burial arrangements, with Tayebwa urging mourners to remember that “the prize is Uganda,” a sentiment he said Kazoora had long embodied.

Naomi Kabasharira, the MP for Rushenyi County and Kazoora’s widow, offered a deeply personal tribute, recalling how their differing political affiliations never became a source of conflict.

“He never saw dissent as enmity,” she said. “John was a father to many, but his love for children was unmatched. Even while silently battling diabetes, he remained committed to the people and causes he believed in.”

Kazoora’s integrity, discipline, and loyalty to national ideals were echoed in several eulogies. His longtime friend Hannington Karuhanga, who met Kazoora at Nyakasura School more than five decades ago, invited fellow alumni to sing their school anthem in his memory.

Karuhanga credited their shared background for shaping Kazoora’s ethos of servant leadership and patriotism.

Maj Gen Sabiiti Muzeyi, speaking as both a relative and fellow soldier, recounted Kazoora’s roots in the Fronasa and NRA liberation movements, where he served with quiet resolve.

“He never lost sight of why he picked up the gun — to defend dignity, justice, and the common good,” Muzeyi said.

Rev Gillian Okello, chaplain of Parliament, delivered a sermon that urged mourners to cultivate a personal relationship with Christ — a message that reflected Kazoora’s own life, described by friends as principled, purposeful, and deeply spiritual.

Born on August 4, 1958, John Kazoora’s life spanned multiple chapters of Uganda’s history. He served as an NRA officer before entering Parliament as MP for Kashari, a role he held for over ten years.

In 2005, he co-founded the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and served as its inaugural Secretary for Defence, Security, and Internal Affairs — a role in which his military background and legislative experience converged.

Beyond the political sphere, Kazoora was also a published author. His 2014 memoir, "Betrayed By My Leader", offered an unflinching account of Uganda’s post-liberation politics.

In the book, he described his journey from a committed cadre in the National Resistance Army to a vocal critic of what he saw as the erosion of democratic values.

The work remains a touchstone for those seeking to understand Uganda’s political transitions through the eyes of an insider who refused to remain silent.

His son, Albert Asiimwe Kazoora, moved the congregation with vivid recollections of a father who was both “present and principled,” comparing him to “Rambo — strong and protective, but always rooted in love and reason.”

As the nation prepares to lay him to rest on Thursday, April 24, in Rutooma, Kashari in Mbarara District, the sense of loss is not confined to family or friends.

Uganda mourns a patriot whose conscience could not be bought, whose loyalty lay not in titles but in truth, and whose legacy will endure in both memory and record.

Maj Gen Sabiiti Muzeyi, speaking as both a relative and fellow soldier, recounted Kazoora’s roots in the Fronasa and NRA liberation movements, where he served with quiet resolve.