Glowing tributes as renowned gardening columnist Rukidi is laid to rest
Jan 12, 2024
Babumba described Rukidi as a loving person who left people better than she found them.
Winifred Rukidi, former Saturday Vision gardening columnist and book author of Plants. (File Photo)
Andrew Arinaitwe
Journalist @New Vision
____________________________ Winnie Rukidi
Winifred Rukidi, 64, an over a decade Saturday Vision gardening columnist and book author of Plants (Simply paradise Tropical Gardening plants), has been laid to rest in Nyakisharara, Mbarara.
During the funeral service master of ceremonies and retired chief magistrate David Mafundo, revealed how Winnifred Rukidi had been under intensive care for a very long time.
Philip Rukidi, the son of Rukidi who resented his father, Enock Rukidi, was flanked by his brother Paul Rukidi and sister Patricia Rukidi, stood up and said: "Thank you all for coming to bid farewell to my wife, Winnie. All testimonials given here today are correct and I have nothing more to add. She accomplished all she set out to achieve and we thank God for that. She passed away at 64 years of which 36 of those years she was with us".
Present at the burial were several high-profile personalities including UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima, UPDF representative Gen Sam Kavuma, works ministry permanent secretary, and Mbarara North MP Robert Rukaari.
The Rev. Can. Yafese Sayib, a relative of the family said: "I know the sweetness of a man and a woman because when my wife is not yet home, I stay home waiting, and when I am not home, she is home waiting".
Glowing tribute
Winifred's sister, Rebbecca Mugume, said she enjoyed the company of her elder sister who was the epitome of love. Mugume referred to 1 John 4:7 when describing her sister: "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God".
Winfred's uncle, Philip Kamugungunu, said that Rukidis' wedding in the 1980s was the wedding of the year because President Yoweri Museveni attended it.
Kamugungunu thanked Enock for taking good care of Winnie.
"Thank you for loving Winnie and sacrificing everything over the last 10 years of not thinking about yourself. Someone said when we men and our wives fall sick, we tend to go away and look for greener pastures," Kamugungunu said.
Kamugungunu also encouraged the children to take good care of their father (Enock Rukidi)
Phiona Babumba, an auntie of Winnie, described that interacting with Rukidi was always a learning moment.
"She did not do anything without planning. She would make something beautiful out of nothing; she would paint a pot, then dry the flowers and make something out of something ordinary. She was meticulous that way," Babumba said, revealing how Winnie taught her how to walk and act in public respectably.
Babumba described Rukidi as a loving person who left people better than she found them.
Ankole Anglican Diocese bishop Sheldon Mwesigwa laid a wreath on the casket on behalf of the Church.
"Knowing God is a goldmine because it's better than all things and she knew the Lord," Mwesigwa said.
According to Mwesigwa, the parents of the Rukidis had done well to help improve the community they lived in, "they left a legacy; they would make wells where cows and humans would get water."
Mwesigwa preached about the thief who comes to steal but that people should consider accepting Christ if they want to live a life of abundance.
"The Lord intended us to have a good life, but even at a young age, there are many things that are fighting our bodies. These days, youth want cornflakes, chips, and chicken instead of healthy meals," Mwesigwa said as he called for values in society.
"We need to go back to the basics — the blueprint of God. He gave us everything but also warned us against eating other things," Mwesigwa said.
Let's teach children values
The bishop revealed how the most privileged in society are the most corrupt and instead urged them to care and love more.
"Winfred liked gardening. Such things cannot be taught in these other schools, which emphasize cheating to attain academic excellence, apart from some of our traditional schools, which still teach these values," Mwesigw said.
"We need to teach our young people not to be selfish; riches are only for a short time; we need to teach them things like gardening, confidence building, and values," Mwesigwa added.
"I thank God for Enock (husband) and he has done something I have not seen for a long time: A man losing his wife and shedding a tear. You loved your wife," Mwesigwa said as he revealed that some men would instead look for greener pastures if they found out they had a sick wife.
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