The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Love for faith
Nekyon sought refuge in football and faith. He had earlier converted from Christianity to Islam. He was a devout Muslim who spearheaded a number of development projects for the Islamic community. Together with other Muslim leaders, Nekyon founded National Association for the Advancement of Muslims (NAAM).
“Sheikhs Abdulrazak Matovu, Obedi Kamulegeya and Hussein Rajab Kakooza headed the religious wing of NAAM while Adoko Nekyon and Shaban Nkutu headed the development arm.” Conrad Nkutu, a family friend of Nekyon wrote on Facebook. He added “Nekyon was Vice Chairman of NAAM while Nkutu was National Chairman until his murder by President Amin in 1973.”
According to Nkutu, NAAM helped build an affirmative action network of schools for the Islamic community in the areas of Butambala, Bombo, Jinja, Iganga, Mbale, Lango and West Nile.
Nekyon was elected the first president of Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) in 1968 after it changed its name from Uganda Football Associations (UFA). The same year was also the first time a national football league was played. He is also credited for founding the National Council of Sports. In September 2015, the 91st FUFA ordinary general assembly recognised Nekyon for his achievements.
When Amin overthrew Obote in 1971, Nekyon went to exile in Kenya. By the time Amin was overthrown in 1979, Nekyon had developed serious differences with Obote and he crossed to the Democratic Party (DP) just in time before the December 1980 elections. The two cousins were on different sides in what remains one of the most controversial elections in Uganda to date. Joseph Bbossa, former vice president of UPC recalls seeing Nekyon in an open roof car in Kampala chanting ‘we have won’ as results were filtering in with a big crowd following him. Thereafter chaos followed. The UPC under Obote was declared winner.
Nekyon remained a player in politics under his new party DP. But Museveni kept fighting and Obote was kicked out in 1985. In 1986, Museveni appointed Nekyon General Manager of the national carrier, Uganda Airlines. A few years later, he was appointed minister for health and later minister for rehabilitation.
He bounced back in active politics when he was elected as a Constituent Assembly (CA) delegate for Maruzi in Apac district in 1994. The end of his tenure in the CA marked the start of his retirement from politics.
Nekyon was at the peak of his political powers when he was a minister in the first Obote government and is also remembered as an influential Muslim leader. He was honored by parliament during the 50th independence anniversary celebrations in 2012 for his public service.
Nekyon died on May 4 due to heart complications. The family suffered another blow two days later when Nekyon’s daughter, Sarah Apio died of cancer at a hospital in the UK.
