Outspoken NRA bush war veteran John Kazoora passes on

Major (Rtd) John Kazoora, a former National Resistance Army (NRA) fighter and outspoken critic of the government, has died.

Kazoora passed away on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025. By press time, the cause of death had not yet been established.

A veteran of the Bush War, Kazoora served as Special District Administrator for Kampala and later as Member of Parliament for Kashari County from 1996 to 2006.

He was also a key figure in opposition politics under the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), which was founded by Dr Kizza Besigye.

His memoir, Betrayed by My Leader, recounts his journey from an idealistic student to a bush war combatant.

He is survived by his wife, Naome Kabasharira, the MP for Rushenyi County in Ntungamo district.

Tributes

Speaker of Parliament Anita Among expressed condolences to Kabasharira and paid tribute to the late Kazoora.

“I extend my heartfelt condolences and that of the Parliament of Uganda, on the passing of Major John Kazoora. He served his country as a freedom fighter and soldier in his early years, and later as a Member of Parliament for Kashari,” Among posted on X, formerly Twitter.

“Uncle John, as we affectionately called him, was a mentor to many aspiring politicians and made significant contributions to our country. May the Lord grant his family, comrades, and colleagues the strength to endure this difficult time, and may his soul rest in peace,” Among added.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa also paid tribute: “It is with sadness that I have learnt of the death of Hon. John Kazoora, former Member of Parliament for Kashari County. We became close in 2005 during the PAFO days when I was a youth political activist. Since then, I have always called him Uncle John.

“He has left behind a strong legacy as an astute legislator and freedom fighter,” Tayebwa said on X on Sunday.

Kazoora was an old boy of Nyakasura School in Fort Portal.