Hundreds of mourners including members of parliament on Tuesday gathered at the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) to view the remains of and pay their last respects to veteran politician Agnes Kwaje Lasuba.
Kwaje, who was a Member of Parliament representing Yei County at the TNLA and former minister, passed on in the Kenyan Capital Nairobi earlier this month after a short illness.
Members of parliament, friends, relatives, and well-wishers turned up at the TNLA to pay tribute before the late Kwaje’s body was flown to her hometown Yei for burial.
Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba described the late as an icon with a great personality who contributed greatly to the liberation of South Sudan.
“Indeed, as most of you have said, this is another great loss for us as a parliament. It is not an easy time and moment for us,” she said. “Mama Agnes is someone we have lived with for a very long time and I have personal experiences with her. So, for me as the Speaker, it is a double loss because when you are a leader of any group, you become a father or mother to all.”
According to Speaker Kumba, Kwaje who was the wife of another veteran politician, Joseph Ohduho, was senior to her and that she learned a lot from the late in terms of conducting herself.
“As the wife of Comrade Joseph Ohduho, she was there before and she was part and parcel of the struggle,” she added.
For his part, Muhammed Ahmed, the acting Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) chief whip in the TNLA, called on the administration of the assembly to designate a name for a room in the House in honor of the deceased MP.
“I appeal to the speaker and my colleagues in the parliament that we name even a small office after Agnes Lasuba,” he appealed. “It is the only way of remembering her.”
Meanwhile, Joy Kwaje Eluzai, an MP representing Juba County, commended the members of parliament for receiving the body of their colleague.
“I would like to thank the members of parliament who stood with us. This is great solidarity and I want to appreciate that spirit,” she said. “We want to therefore pay our respect to this great soul. She has been one of the icons for the liberation of this country.”
A representative of the deceased lawmaker’s family, Joseph Yatta, who is also the chairperson of the steering committee for the burial arrangements, said Kwaje’s body will be laid to rest on Wednesday 27 September 2023 in Yei Town.
The late Lasuba began working as a secretary to the President of the High Executive Council, Abel Alier, in 1974.
In 1976 she became the third secretary of the Regional Assembly and the secretary-general of the Women’s Union in the Southern Region in Juba.
From 1998 to 2003, Lasuba was active in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) while still living in the United Kingdom.
From 1998 to 2003, Lasuba was active in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) while still living in the United Kingdom.
She returned to SPLM/A liberated areas in 2003 and took part in the peace talks which eventually led to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005.
Lasuba then served as a member of parliament. In 2009, she was appointed the Minister for Gender, Social Welfare, and Religious Affairs.
As minister, Lasuba focused on gender equality and providing education for young girls.