Manafwa mourns MP-elect Mutonyi's mother

MANAFWA - A church service in honour of Peninah Namutosi, the mother of woman Member of Parliament-elect Rose Mutonyi Masaba, will be held today, Monday, April 6, 2026, at Mukono Seventh-Day Adventist Church, as family, friends and leaders gather to pay their last respects.

Namutosi, who passed away on April 3, 2026, in Mukono at the age of 96, will be laid to rest on Thursday, April 9, at her ancestral home in Sibanga village, Sibanga subcounty, Manafwa district.

Born on May 23, 1929, she lived a long life defined by deep faith, resilience and a passion for education, values that those who knew her say shaped not only her family but the wider Bugisu community.

Together with her late husband, Henry Muyerero, Namutosi raised eight children, seven daughters and one son, and leaves behind a large family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Paying tribute to her mother, Mutonyi described her as a pillar of faith and guidance.

“She was a woman of unwavering faith who trusted God in every season of life. Her greatest joy was to see her children and community embrace education, humility, and purpose. Her legacy will continue to guide us,” she said.

Family members and residents alike recalled a woman whose influence stretched far beyond her immediate household. Victoria Ogwang, one of Namutosi’s grandchildren and wife to sports state minister Peter Ogwang, spoke warmly of her grandmother’s enduring values.

“She was the heart of our family, a gentle but firm pillar who taught us to love others, walk humbly, and live in the fear of God. Her wisdom and kindness will forever remain part of who we are,” Victoria Ogwang said.

In Manafwa, news of her passing has been met with an outpouring of grief and reflection, particularly among older residents who saw her as a custodian of culture and history.

Eriana Nabulo, a resident, described Namutosi as “one of the living encyclopaedias we relied on,” noting that her passing leaves a significant gap in preserving the community’s heritage.

Paul Wabomba, 57, from Sibanga town council, urged the family to celebrate her life even in mourning.

“God gave her a long life because she was a blessing to Manafwa. She not only raised her biological children, but also uplifted everyone she came into contact with,” he told New Vision.

Such sentiments reflect a broader pattern often observed in Uganda, where elderly matriarchs serve as anchors of both family and community life, passing down values, history and social cohesion across generations.

For many in Sibanga and beyond, Namutosi’s life stands as a testament to the enduring impact of faith, education and service. As her family prepares to lay her to rest, her story is being remembered not only in years lived but in lives shaped.