Major John Bashaija Kazoora, a former legislator for Kashari County and a key figure in Uganda’s opposition politics, has passed away. His death was confirmed on Sunday morning, though the cause has not yet been officially revealed.
According to reports, Kazoora became critically ill at his home in Kigo, located off Entebbe Road, before being rushed to Nakasero Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Sources indicate he had been undergoing dialysis since 2024 due to deteriorating health.
Kazoora was well-known for his vocal criticism of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), despite once having fought alongside President Yoweri Museveni during the liberation struggle. He served in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and held the rank of Major before venturing fully into politics.
In the Sixth Parliament (1996–2001), he represented Kashari County in Mbarara District under the no-party Movement system. However, as Uganda embraced multi-party democracy in the early 2000s, Kazoora broke ranks with the NRM and became one of the founding members of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). He later served as the party’s Director of Operations, working closely with Dr. Kizza Besigye, the FDC’s founding president.
Throughout his career, Kazoora championed issues related to good governance, constitutionalism, and the separation of the military from politics. His transition from soldier to statesman was marked by a consistent push for democratic reform and civilian oversight in national affairs.
Though he had maintained a relatively quiet public presence in recent years, Kazoora occasionally weighed in on national matters, reflecting his enduring commitment to political discourse.
Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced by his family. His passing marks the end of a significant chapter in Uganda’s political evolution, particularly among those who straddled both the military and the early opposition era.
