Eyes were downcast in sorrow, handkerchiefs dabbed at tears that freely rolled down people’s faces, while others featured tear stain marks from their eyes to the chins. Others yet, looked on with puffy eyes in silence as a large plane landed close to the airport pavilion in Juba. It was a sombre mood with the waiting crowd overwhelmed by emotion as the remains of the former Nile Council of Ministers (Nile-COM) chairperson and Minister of Water and Irrigation of South Sudan, Hon. Manawa Peter Gatkuoth, were carried off the aircraft and placed onto the tarmac. A delegation led by South Sudanese President, H.E. Salva Kiir, was on hand to receive the casket, which was draped in the signature national flag with black, red, and green horizontal stripes and a blue triangle at the hoist, within which is a five-pointed yellow star. Men dressed in the national army uniform of green camouflage with berets of varying shades, formed lines on either side of the casket, with President Kiir sandwiched, and rolled the casket through a guard of honour, who saluted as the procession walked past. A police band marched on at the front with two policemen carrying similar portraits of the fallen minister. Representatives from foreign missions, government officials, international and regional organisations, NBI inclusive and South Sudanese nationals made the bulk of the community that was present at the state funeral that saw off the late minister to Simba Square, where he was laid to rest. In his speech, President Kiir described Hon. Manawa as a man who was passionate about public service, was active during cabinet meetings and a great networker in the region. As Chair of the Nile-COM, Hon. Gatkuoth was the head of NBI’s highest political and decision-making body, which comprises Ministers in charge of Water Affairs in the Nile Basin Member States. The position of chair rotates among the Nile Basin Member States annually. The NBI Secretariat’s Executive Director, Eng. Sylvester Matemu, attended the funeral in Juba and presented NBI’s tribute and condolence gift to the acting minister in the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Hon. Josephine Joseph Lagu, who is the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security. In addition to attending the state funeral for the late Hon. Manawa, the NBI Executive Director met with the Nile Technical Advisory Committee Chair, members and senior ministry staff to discuss the forthcoming governance meeting, status of country contribution from South Sudan as well as progress of the master plan for the Ministries of Agriculture, Water and Environment that fall under the Economic Cluster. Elizabeth Agiro,
Communications Consultant
Nile-SEC, ENTEBBE