Cyrus Jirongo. Photo/Courtesy
At the memorial service for the late former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo on Saturday at CITAM Church, Valley Road, a close friend painted a vivid picture of the politician as a man whose wealth and success came long before he entered the political arena.
Fred Amayo, a longtime confidant, told mourners that Jirongo was already a force in business by his late 20s.
“By the time I met Jirongo, he had already built Hazina Estate, was developing Kemri Estate, and we were even on site at Saika Estate. This getting into politics is what has caused Jirongo all these waves right through his life,” Amayo said.
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The revelations challenge narratives that Jirongo’s fortune was made through politics. Amayo insisted that while serving as Lugari MP, Jirongo never used his parliamentary salary for personal gain, instead directing it to help residents of his constituency.
“Those who are propagating stories that he made his money from politics, I know for a fact that he never spent a shilling from his MP salary on himself,” he said.
According to Amayo, politics brought Jirongo challenges, but his business acumen had already set him apart. “Jirongo was already a successful man before he got into politics,” Amayo added.
Mourners, including family, friends, and political figures, listened as Amayo reflected on a man whose life straddled business success and political prominence.
The stories highlighted not just Jirongo’s achievements but also his generosity and commitment to his community.
Jirongo, who died earlier this month in a tragic road accident, is remembered as a complex figure: a tycoon, a politician, and a man whose early business ventures laid the foundation for a life that left an enduring mark on Lugari and beyond.