President Museveni, First Lady Janet pay tribute to late Mathew Kazoora

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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, yesterday evening joined the family of the late John Kazoora to pay tribute to Mathew Richard Rubahama Kazoora, who died on September 1, 2025, in London.

President Museveni upon arrival at the venue. (PPU)

President Museveni and the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, received by guests who included former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Kutesa, at the venue. (PPU)

(PPU)

Sam Kutesa, former minister of Foreign Affairs (2nd right). (PPU)

Aged 63, he was the second born of five children born to the late John Kazoora and Gwendine. Mathew's siblings are: Max, Vanessa, Susan and Mark.

Mathew Richard Rubahama Kazoora. (PPU)

Mathew pursued a Degree in Law and Sociology and later advanced with a Master’s in International Relations from the United Kingdom.

President Museveni paying respects to Mathew Richard Rubahama Kazoora, who died on September 1, 2025, in London. (PPU)

First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, laying a wreath on the coffin on the late Mathew Richard Rubahama Kazoora. (PPU)

In his heartfelt speech to mourners at the family home in Makindye, Kampala, President Museveni on Friday (October 10) expressed gratitude to the late John Kazoora for his contributions while alive and recalled memories connected to the compound.

“I’m in this compound after a very long time. On February 4, 1981, Maama left me here with Patience and Diana and went through the airport to Nairobi, but she had some drama at the airport earlier, alone.

President Museveni addressing the mourners.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. (PPU)

Mrs Kakwano had taken Muhoozi and Natasha through the land border through Malaba, this was in order to get out of the way because we were planning to attack Kabamba on the 6th of February.

When she left on 5th, I spent the whole day here. But later left at around 5 O’clock to follow the men group which was going to attack. I don’t know whether I have been back here again here but that’s what I remember about this place,” President Museveni said.

A release from the Presidential Press Unit states that Museveni further narrated, “because the then government came to know that I had sprung from here, they came and damaged the house. When John (Kazoora) was alive, we tried to repair it. I don’t remember the details very well, but we have always been ready to repair it because John played a very big role in our struggle. I felt I should correct this because John contributed a lot to our struggle.”

Talking about the importance of building a family legacy, Museveni cautioned the family about internal division. He urged the Kazoora family to: repent, forgive and reconcile.

Advising all Ugandans on inheritance and family wealth, Museveni said, “you need to go back to some basics about life, family, black-hood and fraternity. For instance, Henry Ford, who invented the automobile, died a long time but even if you go today, you find the Ford company working. I have been telling all Ugandans the capitalistic smart way of inheritance, where they started using shares instead of physical division."

With specific reference to the family estate, he advised, "You should take it all as a family company and you have shares.”

“So, I think the death of Mathew will be meaningful if we learn from it whatever mistakes that were made, if they are corrected, then it will be remembered that Mathew’s death was a turning point for the Kazoora family.”

First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni. (PPU)

Mourners listening in during the function. (PPU)

On her part, Maama Janet thanked President Museveni for assisting in bringing Mathew’s body back home.

In her remarks, she said, “I want to thank Mzee (Museveni) for enabling us to bring Mathew’s body back home, which gives us a chance to pay respects in Makindye.

This is the only home Mathew ever knew in Uganda. It’s where he grew up and spent his childhood, and what a happy time that was!

Therefore, that’s why I so much wanted his body to come here for the last time before going to Mbarara for the burial.

I thought it was necessary for us to meet here to mourn Mathew’s death together and bid farewell, and I thank God that we could do this.”

Maama Janet related her remarks to the theme of the prayer breakfast, “the power of forgiveness and reconciliation,” and urged the mourners to believe in God and to allow God to lead them to forgiveness.

“Mathew was a very good friend of mine. It was my prayer that you allow God to lead you to forgive each other, and may Mathew’s death be a turning point for all of you to bring you back together.”

She called for unity among the surviving siblings so that the property their parents left behind would become a blessing.

Mrs Museveni also added that to fulfil their life purposes, families should believe in God.

Mourners at the Kazoora home included Sam Kutesa, former minister of Foreign Affairs.