Elders in Tooro Kingdom led by former Burahya County Member of Parliament Rtd. Col. Hon. Stephen Basaliza, are mourning the untimely loss of Mzee Isaac Kaihura Atwooki, who was not only an elder but one of the pillars of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru’s kingdom.
We have learnt that Kaihura, who has been battling health complications for a long time, passed away at Buhinga Hospital on Monday morning, aged 75 years old.
Family members reveal that Mzee Kaihura has been on treatment for a long time, although he spent several years in India and America on treatment before settling in Uganda.
The late Kaihura hails from the Mugahe clan and was the head of Bagahe Clan of Tooro Kingdom, who are traditionally, the custodians of the kingdom’s culture.
Prior to his demise, Kaihura was the Chairman of Bagahe Developers Association for Economic Empowerment, although he was also a prominent farmer in the kingdom.
Kaihura was son of the late Adonia and Mrs. Karegyera of Kasiisi, Ruteete Subcounty, Burasya, in Kabarole District.
A retired public servant, Kaihura worked in various ministries for a long time and his last appointment was at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries where he served as Senior Executive Officer for several years before he retired.
In 1985 when the NRA/M captured Fort Portal, he was among the first mobilizers to welcome the freedom fighters and started up a group to foster the philosophy of National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Tooro kingdom.
Under Kakooza Mutale, Kaihura helped the NRM to set up the first political school in Tooro Kingdom which was founded in Fort Portal in 1985 and also helped to establish a camp in Mugusu, Busoro Subcounty.
During his youthful days Kaihura was among the first group of civilian cadres that joined the political school. With the capture of Kampala in 1986, the school was shifted to Namugongo with all the cadres.
In 1986 when the NRM captured power, Kaihura was appointed the first NRM Financial Controller at the NRM Secretariat.
He served for almost 5 years before he voluntarily resigned and decided to concentrate on personal businesses.
Ever since then he has been a strong supporter of the NRM, often influencing, guiding and mentoring elected and other leaders, efforts that enabled him to scoop the prestigious Nalubaale Medal.
When he retired from public service after decades of serving the nation, Kaihura continued with his agriculture and veterinary projects, plus tending to his tea estates in Fort Portal, from which he reaped big.
Using proceeds from his agricultural projects, Kaihura managed to establish a school known as Fort Portal Secondary school, one of the biggest schools in the Area for both O & A levels, on top of the many great things he did for the kingdom.
Following his demise, Tooro Kingdom and the Bagahe Clan in particular are so bereaved for having lost such a great leader, statesman, educationist and local investor.