The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has hailed the late former minister, Amb. Kweronda Ruhemba, as a distinguished leader whose service to Uganda left a lasting impact on governance, diplomacy, and agricultural development.
Ruhemba passed away on Saturday morning at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital.
Representing President Museveni at the official burial held in Kajara County, Ntungamo District, on Thursday, Tayebwa said that the late Ruhemba served with distinction in multiple national roles, including as a Member of the Constituent Assembly, Member of Parliament in the Sixth Parliament representing Kajara County (1996–2001), and later as Uganda’s Ambassador to Geneva and South Africa. He also served in key ministerial positions, including State Minister for Education and Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
“The president paid tribute to Hon. Ruhemba as a dedicated leader who served with distinction in the Constituent Assembly, Parliament, and Uganda’s foreign service, always advancing the interests of the country,” he said.
According to Tayebwa, even after retiring from active public service, Ruhemba remained influential, offering guidance and mentorship to emerging leaders. His commitment to national unity and development, Tayebwa noted, will be remembered for generations.
Reflecting on Ruhemba’s parliamentary record, Tayebwa revealed that he revisited the Parliament Hansard following news of his passing and was struck by the late leader’s impactful contributions, particularly in advancing agricultural policy.
“He was a strong advocate for policies that enabled Uganda’s agricultural producers to access markets, a critical factor in improving livelihoods and strengthening the economy,” he said.
Tayebwa also noted that Ruhemba worked closely with the late Prof. George Kanyeihamba, who passed away last year, to advocate for progressive citizenship policies. Their efforts supported granting citizenship to long-term foreign residents who owned property in Uganda, a move credited with boosting investor confidence and economic stability.
During his remarks, Tayebwa extended appreciation to the people of Ntungamo District for their continued political support, noting that the district delivered over 235,000 votes to President Museveni in previous elections—making it the second-highest vote tally in the country after Isingiro District—and overwhelmingly backing candidates from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Tayebwa further expressed gratitude to President Museveni for granting Ruhemba an official burial, describing the honour as befitting a man who dedicated his life to public service.