Leaders from Samia and Bunyala Sub Counties in Busia County have termed the death of Ugandan Minister Aggrey Awori a big blow to the Samia community and East African region at large.
Funyula MP Dr. Oundo Mudenyo, his Budalang’i counterpart Hon. Raphael Wanjala, former Funyula MP Dr. Paul Otuoma and Nangina ward rep John Obwogo have eulogized Awori as a true Pan Africanist who contributed immensely to the unity of East African region.
“We have lost a very important person in our society and we join hands with other leaders in sending our condolences to the entire Awori family.”
“The Awori family has contributed a lot to the growth of communities both in Kenya and Uganda and we are very proud of them.”
They recalled the glory the late Aggrey brought to Uganda and Samia community by taking part in Olympic Games of 1960 and 1964, “It was a great honor to the people of Uganda and Kenya as well.”
Aggrey who died on 5th July 2021 at Naalya in Kampala Uganda aged 82 years was the 10th born in a family of sixteen children of the late Canon Jeremiah Musungu Awori, a pioneer African priest of the Anglican church of East Africa and Mrs. Mariam Odongo Awori.
He contested for presidency in Uganda in 2001 but finished third. He however managed to capture Samia Bugwe North parliamentary seat which he served from 2001 to 2006, during which he was an outspoken opposition politician of the Uganda People’s Congress party (UPC). He later left the party and joined the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
In 2009 he was appointed Minister for Information and Communication Technology a post he held until 2011.
His elder brother Hon. Moody Awori was Kenya’s 9th Vice president serving under President Mwai Kibaki from 2003 to 2008 and also as Funyula MP in Busia Kenya from since 1983 formerly known as Busia Central to 2007.
He is survived by one wife Thelma Awori and six children.