Legislators have renewed the decision to fight the rising instances of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) that are claiming lives as Parliament paid glowing tribute to the late State Minister of Defence, Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi.
The late Hon. Nyirabashitsi, who was additionally the Kisoro District Woman Representative in Parliament, died of a coronary heart assault, on Saturday, 07 September 2024.
The Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business, Robinah Nabbanja, who moved the movement to pay tribute to the late Nyirabashitsi, stated that authorities was alive to the devastating results of NCDs reminiscent of most cancers, diabetes, hypertension which though preventable are among the many severe killers.
“As we pay tribute to our fallen colleague, permit me to state that Non-Communicable Diseases is one other menace to our society, robing us of recreation changers within the growth of our nation like Hon. Sarah Mateke,” stated Nabbanja in the course of the House chaired by Speaker, Anita Among on Tuesday, 10 September 2024.
She highlighted insurance policies and programmess such because the 2015 National non-Communicable Diseases Policy and the National Non-Communicable Diseases Control Programme put in place to strengthen the struggle.
“Government has launched non-communicable illness companies into main healthcare companies, established non-communicable illness clinics and specialised remedy centres to coach healthcare staff on non-communicable illnesses administration,” she stated.
Nabbanja additionally talked of a brand new initiative dubbed ‘Healthy Heart Africa’ to advertise cardiovascular well being in partnership with civil society organisations to advertise non-communicable illnesses consciousness.
In a glowing tribute, legislators described the late Nyirabashitsi as a lady of integrity whose service as a Member of Parliament, Minister and former Senior Assistant Town Clerk for Kisoro Town Council was with out scandals.
“In the six months she has been on the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs there isn’t a single scandal that was connected to her title, both defrauding gasoline, which in accordance with the Ministry of Defence would have dire penalties,” stated Hon. Jacob Oboth, the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs.
He described Nyirabashitsi as a group participant who labored with diligence and competence such that he typically delegated assignments of nice significance to her.
“She has been concerned in lots of worldwide navy and defence associated occasions, which you’ll solely delegate to any person in a position and able to executing project at worldwide stage,” Oboth stated.
The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, attested to the integrity with which Nyirabashitsi executed her ministerial duties and counseled her efforts to uplift the positon of youth and youngsters.
“Of late the vice of corruption has continued to eat up our nation, I didn’t hear Hon. Mateke’s title embroiled in any corruption scandal throughout her service, if there was one, then I missed it,” stated Ssenyonyi including that, “while you would disagree along with her it was difficeult to feud along with her due to her calmness. She was the form of an individual who may disarm you along with her gentility.”
Legislators who had a detailed relation with Nyirabashitsi praised her distinct ardour for the individuals she represented in Parliament, saying she spent most of her time within the constituency and was hardly late or absent for cupboard conferences.
Her ardour for youth and youngsters ranked excessive amongst Nyirabashitsi’s tributes, who’s counseled for advocating for teenage pregnant women to stay in class following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“She struggled with the problems associated to teenage being pregnant and in consequence, a coverage was made that each one teenage pregnant college students needs to be allowed to take a seat exams and all of them excelled,” stated Hon. Betty Amongi, the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
Legislators prayed that Nyirabashitsi’s advocacy to rehabilitate avenue youngsters needs to be taken as much as its fruition. According to Amongi, solely Shs20 million was obtainable for rehabilitation of avenue youngsters which she stated was inadequate to trigger a big change.
The Vice-President, H.E Jessica Alupo, known as on legislators to emulate Nyirabashitsi’s character as a unifier, an affidavit she stated is sung in Kisoro and in political circles.
“When I used to be in Kisoro for the set up of the Bishop of Muhabura Diocese, a couple of leaders who spoke talked nicely of Mateke and her household particularly in uniting the politicians of Kisoro. The Bishop himself made a remark about her in keeping with uniting individuals,” Alupo stated.
The late Nyirabashitsi, who’s survived by a son, will likely be buried in Nyakabingo in Kisoro on Thursday, 12 September 2024.
