Dr. Philemon Mateke, the father of Sarah Nyirabashitsi Mateke, the fallen State Minister for Defense and Veteran Affairs, has said that he was instrumental in grooming her for a career in politics, often advising and encouraging her to become a good leader. Sarah Mateke died on Saturday morning.
Dr. Philemon, who also serves as the Chairperson of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party in Kisoro District, revealed that he was instrumental in grooming Sarah Mateke for a career in politics, often advising and encouraging her to become a good leader.
Dr. Mateke says that Sarah, having grown up observing his own political life, naturally emulated his path.
Dr. Mateke, the former UPC strongman who served in the Obote two regime as a Minister and now Kisoro NRM boss, says that the good qualities of leadership that he managed to instill in her as she has been a uniting factor in the politics of Kisoro District.
He described her as a hardworking and pro-people leader who never antagonized anyone and a dedicated member of the NRM who would traverse Kisoro District in a single day, tirelessly mobilizing support for the party.
“I have lost a daughter who was humble and respected everyone,” Dr. Mateke said, adding that the people of Kisoro had recognized her potential as a leader during her tenure.
Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi was the third born of the six children of the veteran politician Dr. Mateke, who served as Bufumbira South Member of Parliament as well as the Kisoro LC5 Boss. Sarah Mateke was the only child of Mateke who took up his father’s path of politics; others are in business and academia.
She has been the Woman Representative for Kisoro District and State Minister for Defense and Veteran Affairs.
This was her second term as Member of Parliament for Kisoro. She served as a woman MP from 2011 to 2016, then lost to Rose Kabagenyi, but in 2021 she reclaimed the seat after defeating Kabagenyi, who is now Senior Presidential Advisor on Agriculture.
