The NRM vice chairperson for Northern Uganda has hailed Kenya’s former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga who died of cardiac arrest in India as one a towering figure in African politics whose life and legacy offer valuable lessons — particularly for Uganda’s opposition.
Speaking on Wednesday in Arua, Obua said Odinga was a committed pan-Africanist, a statesman of exceptional resilience, and an encyclopaedia of Kenyan politics, whose ability to place country above self defined his decades-long career in public service.
“There is much for us — especially the Ugandan opposition — to learn from the late Raila Odinga. He stood firm in his beliefs but always placed Kenya first. He understood that political competition should never be mistaken for enmity,” Obua said.
“We must know that our countries are bigger than all of us and can accommodate all of us. That is what the late Raila Odinga demonstrated to the people of Kenya, that when I contest against you, we are not enemies, we all have a common agenda. I can still join you and we work together for the common good of the people.”
Raila Odinga, who had served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013, was widely known as one of the most influential figures in Kenyan politics. His career spanned decades, during which he played a pivotal role in advocating for democratic reforms, particularly after his leadership in the fight for multiparty democracy in the 1990s.
The loss of Raila Odinga is expected to have significant implications on Kenya’s political landscape, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
Odinga had remained an influential voice in Kenyan politics despite stepping back from the presidency after several failed bids.
His political party, Azimio la Umoja, which he led, has been a crucial player in the opposition and had recently called for reforms to address the country’s rising cost of living and political instability.
Speaking on Wednesday, the NRM vice chairman for Northern Uganda urged Uganda’s political actors to emulate Odinga’s spirit of nation-building, dialogue, and commitment to democratic ideals.
“Raila Odinga leaves behind a legacy not only for Kenya, but for Africa — a legacy of courage, compromise, and country-first leadership. That is the lesson he leaves behind for opposition politicians in other countries within and outside East Africa to learn from.”
