Mubiru listened to his favourite song before death

By Norman Katende & Mathias Mazinga

Only sniffles, sighs and occasional sobs interrupted the  seven minutes presentation, as Francis Mutesasira, a close friend to Michael Mubiru sung part of the song,"The trumpet shall sound"  by Messiah Handle that his fellow chorister Michael Mubiru loved to listen to.

Mourners at the funeral service Wednesday morning heard that Mubiru had during another funeral service of fellow chorister Saulo Bwewusa Belenga on Monday, told Mutesasira that he had taken long without listening  to the melody  of the song as it sounded on CD and Mutesasira had promised that he will listen to it one time.

Mubiru, described as humble, and loving by almost all speakers died on Monday in a car accident on Gayaza road hours after he attended burial of another chorister Saul Bulega Bwewusa. 

The late Michael Mubiru's children deep in prayer during the funeral service. Mubiru gave his children a strong foundation of christianity. PHOTO/Norman Katende

Driving his Toyota (Premio) from Kampala, Mubirus journey was cut short at Luteete on Gayaza Road, about 10 minutes drive from his Bulamu home in a head-on collision with the trailer.

Witnesses said the crash also involving a commuter taxi occurred at about 10.30pm

Hundreds jammed the St. Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe to mourn Mubiru who was the choir master, a lecturer in music, at Makerere University and a music teacher at Gayaza High school.

Burial took place this evening at was laid to rest at Kijjabijjo, near Gayaza.

Marjorie Aidah Mubiru could not hold back tears for her father as mom  Miriam Mubiru in white in the middle looks on. This was during the funeral service of Michael Mubiru at  St. Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe. Mubiru, who was  an organist  and choir master of St. Paul’s cathedral  died in an accident on Easter Monday as he  drove back home from the burial of his friend  Saulo Bwewusa. He was buried  at Kijjabijjo, Gayaza April 8, 2015. By Norman Katende. PHOTO/ Norman Katende

“The trumpet shall sound, the dead shall be raised, and we shall be changed,” Mutesasira’s sang out loud to the packed the Cathedral. Amidst  sobs Mutesasira mourned, “I did not know what he meant when he gave me the song.”

The mood  in the cathedral was further dampened as Marjorie Aidha Mubiru eulogized her father.

“My dad was a good dad. I thank you for loving my dad. Thank you for showing us love in this trying moment,” she said before emotions took over and she started crying . 

Namirembe church choir members react after Michael Mubiru’s  funeral service at St. Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe. Mubiru, who was  an organist  and choir master of St. Paul’s cathedral  died in an accident on Easter Monday as he  drove back home from the burial of his friend  Saulo Bwewusa. He was buried  at Kijjabijjo, Gayaza April 8, 2015. PHOTO/ Norman Katende

She was flanked by her mother  Miriam Mubiru who lamented,"when death calls, we cannot say anything. He had always been very cautious while driving and even when it was me driving, he could call and warn me not to over speed.  I do not know what happened on Easter Monday  but  I believe God wanted a flower in his garden and Mubiru was that flower that he picked."

The Namirembe Diocese Bishop, Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira, who was the preacher of the day, reminded people and road users to be sensitive to others.
 

Miriam Mubiru, the widow of  Michael Mubiru lays a wreath on her departed husband's coffin at the funeral service at St. Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe. Mubiru, who was  an organist  and choir master of St. Paul’s cathedral  died in an accident on Easter Monday as he  drove back home from the burial of his friend  Saulo Bwewusa. He was buried  at Kijjabijjo, Gayaza April 8, 2015. PHOTO/Norman Katende

Choir members console each other after the  funeral service of Michael Mubiru  at St. Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe. Mubiru, who was  an organist  and choir master of St. Paul’s cathedral  died in an accident on Easter Monday as he  drove back home from the burial of his friend  Saulo Bwewusa. He was buried  at Kijjabijjo, Gayaza April 8, 2015. PHOTO/Norman Katende

Staff of Gayaza High School sing for  their  former teacher Michael Mubiru at the requiem service in his honour  at St. Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe. PHOTO/Norman Katende

"Life is good, Life is precious and we should respect it. It is only those who do not respect life that murder and kill others but as we do this, we should remember the vital question of what have we done in this world," said Luwalira.

"We have lost one of the pillars in the school," the headmistress of Gayaza High School Victoria Kisarale summed it up, before she led the school staff in a song in Mubiru's memory.

Former premier Apollo Nsibambi and his wife Esther lay a wreath on Michael Mubiru's coffin. Mubiru was the organist during their wedding. A requiem service was held in his honour at St. Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe. PHOTO/Norman Katende

Mubiru was born in a music family in 1979 joined the choir as a young boy in 1986.  His father Daniel Kyobe was an organist at Kamanya Martyrs" Church Bunamwaya.

He  studied at : Namirembe Infant School,  Lubiri SSS,  Makerere University for a  bachelors in Music, dance and drama and later went to Nairobi University for a Masters degree in Music.