Renowned evangelist Canon Gensi laid to rest

By Juliet Waiswa                          

Canon Ephraim Gensi has been laid to rest at his ancestral home in Rukungiri district, western Uganda.

The 60-year-old lost succumbed to cancer after a three-year battle with the disease, according to his wife Margret Matama Gensi.

She praised her husband for loving her in their 33 years of marriage.

"He was quick at everything and did everything with enthusiasm. He loved God and even preached on his deathbed,” she said at the funeral service earlier.

Gensi died at Vellore Hospital in India last Saturday (September 5) after first being treated in Uganda in 2012 and later referred to Medanta Hospital in India for better treatment.

"Before this diagnosis, the vicar had been generally healthy and energetic in all his work," John Behangana, an in-law, told mourners.

Peter Gensi described his father as a consistent Christian who loved to be told the truth all the time. Even after his departure, Peter promised to live to his dad’s expectations.

The late Gensi’s eldest daughter Esther lightened up the somber congregation with fond memories of her and daddy.

“I once asked my father that I wanted to go dancing. It was 11:30pm and I feared to approach him. But when I did, I was shocked when he dressed up and said “Okay let us go!”, and so we went dancing – me and my father!”

At the time of his death, Gensi was the vicar of St. Stephen's Church, Kisugu where he worked for four years. Prior he had served at St. Luke's Church Ntinda which was his home church.

 He worked with Compassion International as country director and later on as regional director. Before, he was the national coordinator at African Evangelistic Enterprise (AEE) for many years.

Gensi also worked with the African Evangelistic Enterprise, and with Scripture Union Uganda as travelling secretary after rising through the ranks. He was also a teacher at Nyakasura School.

Meanwhile, retired Kampala assistant bishop Zac Niringiye said Canon Gensi mentored him from the time they were in school until when they both got married.

He told mourners of how they shared every secret including love relations during school days and even in marriage life. "Our wives were our wives and children our children,” said Niringiye.

"While in school I would tell him of how a 'sister' has given me trouble, share jokes and we would later pray and confess of lust. We shared all aspects of life, including business ideas.”

‘An innovator, a giver’

The funeral service was at St Stephen Church in Kisugu.

When Niringiye ventured into politics, he said, Gensi asked him if he was really serious with what he was going into.

“Gensi taught me business. He was an accomplished businessman and clergy. We preached while in school, we talked about everything – Jesus, girls, business plans.  I followed him in making money.”

In his sermon, Rt. Rev Geoffrey Rwobusisi told the bereaved family that God is a great counselor who gave and has now taken Gensi. "God will counsel you," he comforted them, adding that Gensi had left a mark.

The laity of Kisugu, Robert Sekidde, described him as a man of God, who used his platform to preach the gospel to the business community.

 "He had a vision for the church, was an innovator, a giver and loved his God,” said Sekidde.

Dr John Senyonyi, the vice chancellor of Uganda Christian University (UCU) who is also one of the founder members of City Parents School, described the fallen cleric as a man who desired quality education.

Gensi’s love for the youth led him to start schools like St. Paul's Community in Rukungiri and Divine Primary School, and Kiwuliriza Church of Uganda Primary School in Kampala.

 He also was once the chairman Board of Directors of Uganda Agency for Development (UGAFODE), City Parents School and Komamboga Children's Home.

Several bishops from Kampala and West Kigezi diocese joined mourners at the funeral.

Born in Rusheshe, Rukungiri district to the late Nathan and Irene Kashiringyi on March 4, 1955, Gensi  attended Katurika Primary School, before joining Kigezi High School for O and A Level.

Thereafter, he studied at Makerere University where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. He then pursued a Master's in Business Administration.