A decision was made to transfer him to Mulago National
Referral Hospital. It was on the night of
25th January 1966 that the Hon. Yovan
Maigut Chemonges passed on at Mulago
National Referral Hospital on the 6th floor (VIP Section) allegedly due to high blood pressure at the age of 41 years (1 925 to 1966). During his admission at Mulago
National Referral Hospital, the Hon. Yovan Maigut Chemonges (Kingoo) was visited by many among them the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda Dr. Apollo Milton Obote to wish him a speedy recovery. While the cause of his death has been widely declared as resulting from high blood pressure, this has and still is disputed by a section of people including but not limited to some family members and some MPs of the 1st Uganda Parliament. Following his death, a Parliamentary motion was passed to eulogies the Hon. Yovan Maigut
Chemonges. During his eulogy by the MPs, suspicion and doubt was cast on the results of the postmortem as to the cause of his death. On account of their dissatisfaction, a section of the MPs demanded and insisted that a fresh and independent investigation (postmortem) be carried out to establish the “real cause” of his death in order to put to rest their doubts and concerns. This however was not to be the case, as the demand for a fresh and independent investigation was never carried out, thus leaving room for further suspicion and speculation of foul play. It is believed that the Hon. Yovan Maigut Chemonges’ (Kingoo) high profile and illustrious career as a brilliant and charismatic national and community leader created many enemies and this may have had a hand in his death. Following his death the then Prime Minister Milton Obote summoned Parliament and on his own behalf and on behalf of Government and the Nation gave a moving speech to all Members of Parliament in honor and memory of the Hon. Yovan Maigut
Chemonges (Kingoo), where he described him as ” a sincere, courageous and reliable person and leader”. On 27th January 1 966, the Hon. Yovan Maigut Chemonges (Kingoo) was finally laid to rest at his official residence in Kapchorwa District. He was accorded a state funeral befitting a nationalist, a people’s representative and leader with the Ugandan flag flying half mast nationwide for three days. His funeral was well attended by a multitude including national leaders (religious, political, civil and military leaders) and representation from regional leaders. Nearly 1 0,000 people were in attendance.
We celebrate and pay tribute to the Hon. Yovan Maigut Chemonges (Kingoo) for his role and contribution to National, Regional and Community affairs. The Hon. Yovan Maigut Chemonges will also be remembered as one whom though unsuccessful, contested for the position of
President and Head of State of the
Republic of Uganda along with Sir Edward
Mutesa, the Kabaka of Buganda and the
Kyabazinga of Busoga, William Wilberforce
Nadiope in the 4th October 1964
Presidential election. Both the Hon. Yovan
Maigut Chemonges and the Kyabazinga of Busoga, William Wilberforce Nadiope lost to Sir Edward Mutesa, the Kabaka of Buganda to become the First President and Head of State of the Republic of Uganda. At Uganda’s independence (1962) the Queen of England remained the Head of State of Uganda, while Dr. Milton Obote was the Prime Minister. On the ground she was represented by the Governor-General, Sir Walter Coutts. This arrangement was temporary on account of a demand that the Queen of England should relinquish her position as the Head of State of Uganda and consequently be replaced by a
Ugandan. As a result an election procedure was developed on how to elect a President
and Head of State of Uganda to replace the Queen of England. It was agreed that a position of Constitutional Heads be created from whom the candidates for position of President and Head of State of the Republic of Uganda to replace the Queen of England would be elected. The position of Constitutional Heads was created and filled. Constitutional Heads were the Kings or Cultural Heads of the various communities or districts of Uganda, officially reorganized by the government of Uganda through Parliament. Three people in their capacities as Constitutional Heads of Districts and communities offered themselves as contenders for position of President and Head of State of the Republic of Uganda to replace the Queen of England. These included Sir Edward Mutesa, Kabaka of Buganda, Sir William
Wilberforce Nadiope, Kyabazinga of
Busoga and Hon. Yovan Maigut Chemonges, the Constitutional Head of Sebei District (Kingoo of Sebei). The electorate in this regard where District Councils of the various Districts of Uganda including Sebei District Council. In this respect therefore, elections for President and Head of State of Uganda to replace the Queen of England were conducted on 4th October 1964. Following this election, Sir Edward Mutesa, Kabaka of Buganda emerged as the winner, defeating Hon. Yovan Maigut Chemonges (Kingoo) and the Kyabazinga of Busoga, William Wilberforce Nadiope to become the First
President and Head of State of the Republic of Uganda. In this Presidential election (1 964), the Hon. Yovan Maigut Chemonges (Kingoo) obtained only 3 votes from all the District Councils of Uganda and all the 3 votes were from the
Sebei District Council. Sir Edward Mutesa,
Kabaka of Buganda won the 1964
Presidential election partly because he had
the full support and backing of the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Milton Obote and the UPC
Party. This support was based on the
Kabaka Yeka (KY) and Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) alliance that the Kabaka of Buganda would support Milton Obote to become Prime Minister of Uganda and later the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Milton Obote and the UPC Party would in turn support Sir Edward Mutesa, Kabaka of Buganda to be President and Head of
State. It was also intended to have
Buganda more involved in the politics of
Uganda, following Buganda’s intention in 1 961 to separate from Uganda. Had it been that Prime Minister Milton Obote and the UPC Party, had fully supported and backed Hon. Yovan Maigut Chemonges (Kingoo), it is clear that the outcome of the 4th October 1964 elections would have been different with Hon. Yovan Maigut Chemonges (Kingoo) becoming the first
President and Head of State of post
independence Uganda. It is my strong and well considered view that Hon. Yovan Maigut Chemonges (Kingoo) holds a special place in the history of the Sabiny Community, Kalenjin and Uganda at large. For anyone to write or to discuss the history of the Sabiny Community and Uganda at large without mentioning or making reference to the late Hon. Yovan Maigut Chemonges (Kingoo), reflecting his role, contribution, and participation will either be dishonest or in pursuit of undermining and discrediting the legacy of the man and a history of a people. It is only fair to the Sabiny Community that the late Yovan Maigut Chemonges (Kingoo) be reorganized and given is due place in Sebei and Uganda’s History as a people’s representative, freedom fighter and Ugandan Nationalist. This year Hon. Yovan Maigut Chemonges (Kingoo) would be 92 years old (1925-2017). Thank you @ George Toskin