Patrick Besigye Keihwa, the former Kabale District LCV Chairman has been laid to rest at his ancestral home in Kanyankwanzi village amidst tight security.
Keihwa who is also the former Uganda Local Governments’ Association (ULGA) chairperson for Western Uganda succumbed to Covid-19 at Healthstone Hospital in Banda, Kampala on Thursday evening.
The burial on Saturday which attracted less than 40 people was held amidst tight security by Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) soldiers and the police who ensured that the Standard Operating Procedures are adhered to. His body arrived from Kampala on Saturday morning with A-Plus Funeral services and was immediately taken to the grave.
None of the residents including the deceased’s family members was allowed to go near the grave.
Prudence Kubahigire Besigye, the widow says that her husband developed flu, cough and chest pains last Monday immediately after returning from the Karamoja region to attend a conference organized by South Western Umbrella Water and Sanitation. Kubahigire says that when he was taken to Mulago national referral hospital after the pain increased, he tested positive for Covid.
Kubahigire says that they were forced to take him to Healthstone Hospital in Banda after all the hospitals including were filled with covid-19 patients.
Rev.Canon Erasmus Turyatunga, Kigezi Diocesan Secretary who presided over the burial service hailed security officials for blocking mourners from converging at Keihwa’s home. He said that people should adhere to the SOPs.
Immediately after the burial, security personnel told the few mourners to leave and also ordered family members to quarantine.
Keihwa studied in Mwisi and Muyebe Primary Schools in Kitumba sub-county and joined St. Marys College Rushoroza where he completed Ordinary Level. He later joined Bishop Stuart Primary Teachers College Mbarara where he attained a certificate in primary school teaching.
Keihwa then joined Bishop Barman University College (BBUC) Kabale where he attained a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication.
Keihwa served as Kabale District Chairman from 2011 until last year when he was defeated by incumbent Nelson Nshanga Basheija in the NRM party primaries. He also served as the district councillor representing Kitumba sub-county from 2006-2011.
He also served as a station manager for Voice of Kigezi radio and Kamwenge based Voice of Kamwenge. Before his death, Keihwa has been serving as a synod member of the Kigezi Diocese. URN
