By Dr. Warren Kizza Besigye
When a rumour spread yesterday (Friday 10th January) that Paddy had died, I couldn’t believe it because a text message he sent me a few days back didn’t indicate that he was critically ill. I immediately rung him and Paddy answered the phone almost promptly! He told me that he had been admitted to Mulago’s Cancer Institute and was feeling weak. I coordinated with our colleagues, the “Activists” and we went over to see Paddy at Mulago in the evening. I got to Mulago with Mayor Mubarak Munyagwa and Ingrid Turinawe; we were joined by Nansana Mayor Wakayima, Muhamed Ssegirinya and a few other activists.
Paddy was indeed weak but very alert and conversational. We were more worried about his roommate who was on oxygen; so we talked in soft voices and didn’t stay long to further deprive the patient of fresh air. None of us who visited Paddy could have been prepared for the shocking news of his death today. Such is life; we live in the presence of death! Paddy was a man full of life and he energetically applied himself for the benefit of all around him. He was very concerned about his country. He told us repeatedly that unless the country was on the right footing, all else we would be busy with would come to nothing. That’s why he joined the “Activists for Change (A4C)”.
In the course of our activism, Paddy was very badly assaulted in Nansana; where he was leading a protest of market vendors. I believe that his ailments and eventual death started with the Nansana assault. He spent several days down nursing his injuries and it’s during that time that other afflictions advanced on him. He very much wanted to live and to see a better Uganda. When he became weak and unable to continue with activism, he decided to rejoin the Amarula Family, his brainchild entertainment group. Unfortunately, his life has been cut short! This is yet another debt on the part of Activists; our comrades should never die in vain! Let’s rededicate ourselves to make sure that the effort of Paddy and others before him leads to the changes we need and deserve in our homeland.
Fare thee well Paddy. No turning back; we shall overcome!
FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY!
“[katogoaward]”