Rev. Nkesiga to be laid to rest in Buddo

By Mary Karugaba

Although he was born in Kihihi, Kanungu District, the late Rev. Dr. Solomon Nkesiga will be laid to rest at his home in Nagalabwe Buddo, Wakiso district on Friday.

The family spokesperson Edward Barlow told New Vision that this will be after a funeral service at All Saints Cathedral Nakasero where his wife, Rev. Diana Nkesiga, serves as a vicar.

"According to the programme, we shall have a funeral service on Thursday and then proceed to Budo for a vigil. He will be laid to rest on Friday at 2.00pm," Barlow, a bother to Diana said.

Nkesiga, the Deputy vice Chancellor Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara, passed on in the early hours of Tuesday at Kampala Hospital after succumbing to cancer of the liver.

According to the Cathedral Provost, Michael Mukwana, the late Nkesiga died at the age of 55.  He was admitted to Kampala hospital two weeks ago after his condition deteriorated.

"He had been in and out of the hospital until two weeks ago when his condition deteriorated and doctors advised that he remains in the hospital," Mukwana said.

James Abola, the People's Warden at All Saints Cathedral, described the late Nkesiga as a very knowledgeable person, an effective minister of the gospel, researcher and author who loved people genuinely.

Retired Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Henry Luke Orombi, described Nkesiga as a very focused theologian and a good teacher of God's word.

"I have just returned from preaching the gospel at Bishop Stuart University where he worked and as a friend. I wanted to go and tell him what the Lord had done. Unfortunately he has passed on before I could do that. I worked with him at All Saints and he was great at team player," Orombi said.
 
The Nkesigas marked their silver jubilee in marriage in November last year. During their interview with New Vision last year, Rev. Diana described her husband as an intelligent man.

"I thank God for giving me Solomon as my husband. At home I call him King Solomon. He looks serious and quiet in his glasses. But he has a rich sense of humour. At his jokes, we fall off our chairs laughing.  Solomon is a gentle guy, soft spoken. He is that kind of guy who quietly steals your heart when you looked at him," She said then.

Nkesiga said her husband had been sickly but the church always prayed for them and carried them.
  
During the interview, Solomon was passionate about marriage and noted that many marriages broke because couples often lacked a shared vision. 

"They pull their resources in different directions. I thank God that Diana and I have had a shared vision. We pooled our resources together. Using our pension from South Africa, we bought six acres in Buddo on which we built our residence and Phumla Retreat Centre which supports families through counseling and youth activities. Stressed clergy also come to pray,"  he said.

Nkesiga is survived by a widow, and four children; Ignatius Nkesiga, Themba Nkesiga, Edith Nagawa and Evelyn Namugumya.