John Kazoora, Former Museveni Ally Turned Critic, Dies at 67

John Kazoora, a well known National Resistance Army (NRA) veteran, former Member of Parliament for Kashari County, and author of the critical memoir Betrayed by My Leader, passed away on April 20, 2025, at the age of 67.

Kazoora played a pivotal role in the 1981–86 guerrilla war that helped bring President Yoweri Museveni to power. His memoir chronicled his journey from an idealistic university student to a frontline combatant, eventually expressing profound disillusionment with the leadership that followed the revolution.

Once a close ally of Museveni, Kazoora went on to serve as a critical voice in Parliament and the security sector. He was also a founding member of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), where he held the position of Secretary for Security.

The cause of Kazoora's death remains unclear. He had been battling a terminal illness and had sought treatment in Uganda, Israel, and Turkey. Last year, he spent several months in the ICU at Nakasero Hospital. Known for his outspoken criticism of centralized power, Kazoora's legacy as a proponent of dissent and political reform continues to resonate deeply within Uganda's revolutionary and political circles.

Betrayed by My Leader is a critical memoir written by John Kazoora, offering a firsthand account of his experiences as a former comrade of President Yoweri Museveni in the National Resistance Army (NRA). The book unveils the personal journey of Kazoora from an idealistic university student, eager to join the revolutionary cause, to a disillusioned veteran who became a vocal critic of the very leadership he once fought to establish.

In the memoir, Kazoora provides a reflection on his involvement in the 1981-1986 guerrilla war, a conflict that ultimately led to the ascension of Museveni to the presidency.

He recalls the hopes and dreams that fueled the revolution, particularly the vision of creating a more just and democratic Uganda. However, as the years passed and the revolution’s ideals began to fade, Kazoora found himself increasingly alienated by the very leadership he had once trusted.