He trod the path of humility

Nov 17, 2008

BEHIND All Saints Cathedral Nakasero is a small office where his memories are very vivid. It is an office that summarised his life. He had a small table and two chairs, one his and the other for visitiors.

By Arthur Baguma

BEHIND All Saints Cathedral Nakasero is a small office where his memories are very vivid. It is an office that summarised his life. He had a small table and two chairs, one his and the other for visitiors.

A cupboard full of old spring files and a stand fan is all you can trace in the office he occupied for 12 years as assistant Bishop. In a way it depicted the kind of life he lived a humble and God fearing person with little urge for the worldly things.

This was Bishop Lucas Gonahasa, when he was the assistant to the bishop of Kampala from 1981 to 1997. During his last days on earth he still maintained a humble life style, devoting most of his time to preaching the word of God and pushing for education of children in his small village.

This was a calling he performed until last week when he passed away at the age of 78. Bishop Gonahasa succumbed to diabetes and high blood pressure at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital last Wednesday.

He was laid to rest at his ancestral home in Kadama sub-county in Pallisa district. Gonahasa’s down-to-earth character made him a role model among many who had a chance to interact with him.

When he retired from service in 1996, his destination was his local church, where he set out to help children and the community.

His son, Francis Gonahasa, describes him as a disciplinarian and a person who loved to see every child get educated. Francis talked to his father a day before he died. He says his father had greatly improved.

“It was never imagined he would pass on that soon.” During the funeral service St Andrew’s Cathedral Mbale, mourner after mourner described the late Gonahasa as a hardworking man who, despite advanced age pushed on with work like a 30-year old.

He visited almost all churches in the district and presided over weddings. Retired Bishop Peter Mudonyi who has known the deceased since 1952, described him as a friend of every one who reached out to all classes and ages of people in society the young and old alike.

Friends remember Gonahasa as a strict disciplinarian. When he retired he went back to his village church and started Compassion International child sponsorship at Budaka archdiconary.

Over 1,200 children have benefited from this programme. “It was his desire to see children get an education,” remarked one of the mourners. And to live as an example, Gonahasa saw to it that all his children went to school and graduated from university.

He has been very influential in the local church and presided over several weddings. Gonahasa’s long journey to heaven where all mourners believe he went, started when he was a young boy in school.

“I got the call to become God’s minister when Bishop Asher Wilson of the then Upper Nile diocese came and talked to us,” Gonahasa told The New Vision in an interview in 1996. “He urged us to join God’s ministry since we had learnt some English.

And being a member of the Scripture Union, I was quickly inspired to join.” Since then he never looked back. Born in Kabweri, Pallisa district, Gonahasa was not sure of his year of birth because his parents did not have any records.

He started counting his age in 1945 when he joined primary three after his father reported his age as 13. His mother was one of the four women in a fairly big family. They lived by rearing goats and growing cotton.

Gonahasa went to four primary schools before joining Nabumali High School for his junior education. It was there that he got the inspiration to join God’s ministry in 1952. He underwent a two-year training course as a catechist at Buwalasi College.

After his ordination as a deacon in 1958, Gonahasa was posted to Buhugu as assistant vicar. He later served as principal of Nabumali Theological School before joining the King’s African Rifles in 1961.

But he said during an earlier interview that he neither underwent military training nor was he involved in any military activity. His mission was to preach the gospel to the soldiers.

Gonahasa rose from the rank of warrant officer class 11 to captain. He was honorably discharged from the army in 1968.

After his discharge he served as sales manager of the Bible Society of Uganda from October 1968 before being elected Bishop of Bukedi Diocese after the then bishop was murdered in 1979.

In 1981, Gonahasa was appointed Provost of All Saints Cathedral Nakasero before being made the Assistant Bishop of Kampala Diocese, a post he held for 12 years.

Although Gonahasa confessed during his life that he didn’t even hold an O’Level certificate, he won the accolade of many people. In 1996 he headed a Task Force set to seek ways of reducing secondary school fees, a job he accomplished successfully.

He also served as the chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Aids Support Organisation and the Discharged Prisoners Society.

He was also an active scout and a life member of the Young Men’s Christian Association and Bible Society of Uganda. He spent his free time visiting patients in hospitals and homes.

His most memorable day was when he married Agali, the girl he loved. She passed away 11 years ago. Together, they were blessed with seven children, all boys, but unfortunately, two of them passed away. Gonahasathen married Loy.

Factfile
Name: Lucas Gonahasa
Date of birth: 1932
Place of birth: Kabweru, Kibuku county,
Pallisa district
Status: Married twice to Agali then to Loy. Had seven children, all boys, Education background
He went to:
Kassekya, Kadama, Kibuku and Namirembe primary schools.
Nabumali High School for junior education
Buwalasi College, 1952-1954 Service
Ordained Deacon; 1958
Principal of Nabumali Theological School
Joined the Kings African Rifles in 1961 as a preacher
Discharged from the army in 1968
Sales manager Bible Society of Uganda in October 1968
Elected Bishop of Bukedi Diocese in 1979
Appointed Provost of All Saints Cathedral; 1981
Appointed Assistant Bishop of Kampala diocese for 12 years.
Other responsibilities
Chairman board of trustees of The Aids Support Organisation
An active scout and member of the Young Men’s Christian Association


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