Maj. John Kazoora, a prominent Bush War veteran, former legislator, and outspoken critic of President Yoweri Museveni, has died. The cause of his death remains unconfirmed at this time.
Kazoora, best remembered for his controversial 2012 memoir Betrayed by My Leader, was a vocal former insider turned critic of Museveni’s leadership. In the book, he chronicled the disenchantment of many National Resistance Army (NRA) fighters and painted Museveni as a leader who used and discarded allies, a portrayal that shook the political establishment.
Once a close aide to Museveni in the early years of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government, Kazoora held senior roles and reported directly to the President.
However, his later years were defined by fierce opposition to Museveni’s leadership, particularly the scrapping of presidential term limits—a move Kazoora vehemently opposed.
He served as Member of Parliament for Kashari County from 1996 to 2006, enduring political marginalization from the highest office. In 2006, Kazoora lost his parliamentary seat to Urban Tibamanya, a Museveni ally, in a bitterly contested election.
The loss followed a public fallout with Museveni, including a heated exchange during a meeting in Rwakitura where the President reportedly vowed to politically crush him.
Kazoora was also a founding member of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and served as Secretary for Security in Dr. Kizza Besigye’s shadow cabinet.
Despite his national profile and political gravitas, Kazoora failed in subsequent bids to return to Parliament, including a campaign in Mbarara Municipality in 2011, which was allegedly disrupted by military interference.
In his later years, Maj. Kazoora faced serious health challenges. A fall in his bathroom left him with spinal and hip injuries, which significantly altered his lifestyle and strained his family.
During this period, he reportedly reconciled with President Museveni in a meeting facilitated through his wife, Hon. Naome Kabasharira, the current MP for Rushenyi County and a close ally of First Lady Janet Kataha Museveni.
Museveni, known for his occasional overtures to political adversaries, is said to have offered clemency and even contributed to Kazoora’s medical expenses through Kabasharira.
Kazoora, in turn, pledged to retire from active politics, opting to focus on his health and family.
Despite initial recovery from his injuries, Kazoora was later diagnosed with colon cancer, a condition that led to repeated hospital visits in Uganda, Israel, and Turkey. Treatment costs were exorbitant, forcing him to liquidate personal assets to sustain his care.
He spent his final months in and out of intensive care at Nakasero Hospital, where he remained largely incapacitated.
Family sources indicate that his final years were spent quietly, away from the public glare, surrounded by close family including his wife and their four sons.
Maj. John Kazoora was in his late 60s at the time of his death. He leaves behind a complex legacy—one of valor during Uganda’s liberation struggle, fierce political conviction, and a life marked by both high office and principled opposition.
Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.
