By Cde Newton Noble Odongo | On September 23, 2025, at Lira University Teaching Hospital, a glorious chapter of Uganda’s history came to a close with the passing of Mzee Zephenieh Ajwer, a man whose life was a song of service, sacrifice and unshakable patriotism.
At the age of 94, Mzee Zephenieh Ajwer departed this world having lived a life so selfless and so deeply intertwined with Uganda’s journey as a nation that words can scarcely do justice to his legacy.
Mzee Ajwer’s story began in 1946, when, as a young boy in Primary Four, he answered the call to serve his country. At just 16 years old, he joined the King’s African Rifles, training in Nairobi, Kenya, for two years. His journey of service started with youthful energy and an unwavering sense of duty, a commitment that would span nearly eight decades.
In 1948, he became part of a pioneering group that founded the Uganda Police Band, marking the birth of a musical tradition that would echo through generations. From that moment, music became not just his calling, but his life’s work.
On the historic night of October 9,1962, as Uganda prepared to cast off the shadow of colonial rule, Mzee Ajwer stood proudly with his bandmates. At 15 minutes to midnight, the British flag was lowered and the Ugandan flag was raised high for the very first time and it was Mzee Ajwer’s music that provided the soundtrack to this defining moment.
His notes were not just melodies; they were the heartbeat of a new nation, the sound of freedom taking flight.
Grandfather’s devotion to his craft and country took him beyond Uganda’s borders. In 1970, he travelled to Scotland, sent by President Milton Obote for advanced music training. In 1980, he played a pivotal role in reorganising the Uganda Police Band, ensuring its legacy lived on.
In 1982, he spent two years in Korea, honing his skills to elevate the band to international standards.
Through triumphs and trials, Mzee Ajwer remained steadfast, serving with honour, discipline and humility. He never faced a single case of misconduct, indiscipline or criminal record, a rare and remarkable achievement in 67 years of service.
In 2016, he retired from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) with the army number RA/093882, closing a chapter of service unmatched in its loyalty and longevity.
To the world, he was a soldier and a musician. To us, his family, he was our rock, our mentor, our guiding light. When our beloved mother, his daughter passed away, Mzee Ajwer stepped in with grace and boundless love, raising us as his own and ensuring that we never lacked care or guidance.
His love knew no boundaries. His wisdom shaped who we are today. Grandfather’s hands were strong enough to carry a nation’s history and gentle enough to wipe away our tears. His heart beat for Uganda but it also beat for his family – for us.
On October 1, 2025, exactly 79 years from the day he joined the King’s African Rifles, we shall lay him to rest at Bala, Agege Parish, near Lira University. The date is poetic. It symbolises a full circle, a life that began in service to Uganda, now returning to the soil of the nation he loved so dearly.
Grandfather’s greatest joy was the Uganda Band Music. It was his second family, his lifelong passion, and the legacy he poured his soul into building. To have the band play at his send-off would not only be fitting: it would be the final note in a song he began playing in 1948.
Mzee Ajwer was an unsung hero. He never sought praise or titles, only the satisfaction of seeing his country thrive. As his children and grandchildren, we celebrate him today not just as our grandfather, but as a patriot whose story deserves to be told and remembered.
To the UPDF Band and to the nation he served, we say: thank you for giving us Mzee Ajwer. Though he has departed, his music plays on in our hearts, in our history and in the anthem of freedom he helped compose.
Rest in peace, Grandfather.
Your melody will never fade.
Your legacy will never die.
And your family will forever sing your song.
❤️ 💐 ❤️
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