President Yoweri Museveni has paid great tribute to the late Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ephirahim Rwakanengyere whom he described as an honest, self made person who had great love for people, his country. He said that this made his policing profession to be appreciated leading him to rise from a low rank in the colonial police to becoming an Assistant Commissioner of Police in post independence Ugandan governments.
The President made the remarks yesterday during the burial of the late Rwakanengyere at his home in Rwantsinga, Rubaya Sub-County of Kashaari County in Mbarara district.
The late Rwakanengyere, 84, passed on last Sunday 28th September 2014 at Mbarara Referral Hospital after battling an intestinal tumor for a long period. Mr. Ephraim Rwakanengyere joined the Police Force in 1950 as a Police Constable and rose through the ranks until he retired as Assistant commissioner of Police in 1979.
President Museveni said that the late Rwakanengyere, who was his cousin, managed to work and get elevated by the colonial and post independence governments because of his unique character of hard work, non hypocritical, commitment to service and loyalty to his superiors and regimes that were even not simple to support or work with.
He also commended him for loving and uniting his traditional clan of the Basiita of Ankole and for founding and chairing the association that unites them.
“He achieved all he did through hard work and loyalty to his service and superiors because otherwise he was not known to anybody but his good works lifted him,” the President said.
Mr. Museveni also thanked Mrs. Erinah Rwakanengyere, for her enthusiasm and for laboring to sustain and educate his children at a very difficult time when her late husband was in prison for 7 years. He supported the proposal to construct a technical school in his memory and said that government would support it.
In his message that was read by Assistant Inspector General of Police Ochom, the Inspector General of Police, General Kale Kayihura, saluted the enormous contribution of the late Rwakanengyere to the building of the Uganda Police Force right from colonial days. He said that the Police, therefore, had the reason to celebrate late Rwakanengyere’s life. He said that the late Rwakanengyere executed his duties with diligence leading to his quick elevation during his tenure at in the Uganda Police Force. He described him as a great man who added value to his country.
The late Rwakanengyere is survived by his wife Erinah, children and grandchildren. He was described by friends and family members as a great parent who was generous, exhibited hard working character, and was God fearing and treasured education. He was also praised for having built several schools and churches in the area, supported health centers noting that he was a good National Resistance Movement mobilizer and an excellent time keeper.
Mrs. Erinah Rwakanengyere, on behalf of the family, thanked President Museveni, his government and the Uganda Police Force for according her late husband, a befitting burial characterized by full Police honors. She noted that her late husband deserved the honors because he had dedicated a lot of time to the service of his countr