Veteran teacher Nakabugo laid to rest

PIC: Nakabugo's former classmates lay a wreath on her coffin on Saturday. (Credit: Juliet Lukwago)

Hundreds of mourners attended the burial of veteran school teacher Agnes Grace Nakabugo Ssekweyama at her parent's cemetery on Saturday.

Some travelled all the way from abroad where some of her relatives and friends live.

Nakabugo, who died aged 54, was the head teacher of Namugongo Uganda Martyrs Girls Primary School in Wakiso.

She had held that position for 19 years.

Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala, who led a requiem mass, hailed the long-serving teacher as one who taught many people, adding that she has left a huge gap in the teaching field.

"I know many who passed through her hands, let us thank God for the gift of Nakabugo's life, and the way she witnessed her God," Wamala told mourners.

Describing her as a talented advisor and teacher to all, Wamala asked the people to emulate her exemplary service in education and the Church

Several members of the clergy and politicians attended the burial ceremony.

State minister of education Rosemary Seninde, among those who attended, described Nakabugo as a dedicated teacher, mother and an idol to all teachers.

"As the ministry of education, we have lost a very good teacher who raised many. We will dearly miss her," she said.

On his part, the Archbishop of Kampala Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga hailed the late for her great contribution towards the Church and her nation through teaching the young generation in all capacities.

Nakabugo succumbed to pneumonia last week on Thursday.

A close friend told mourners at the burial that Nakabugo had always wished to depart "without disturbing anyone".

"God has answered Nakabugo's prayers of taking her suddenly without suffering hard with sickness and also disturbing others in nursing her," said Emmanuel Katumba.

"She used to say that ‘I do not want to disturb anyone by keeping them from doing their work because they are nursing me. I want to go to my God without disturbing anyone'."

Maria Gabriel Nyerere, the widow of former Tanzanian president Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, was represented at the burial by her son Deo Kalurama Nyerere who delivered her condolence message with US$3000 (about sh11m).

The school's pupils remembered their headteacher as a counselor, mentor and mother.

Nagawa Katongole was revealed as the heir of Nakabugo.