Fallen YMCA boss hailed for transforming education

ORBITUARY 

KAMPALA - The role played by the fallen former Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), Dr. Joseph Jjumba in education transformation has been applauded.



Dr.Jjumba, the former national executive director YMCA Comprehensive Institute succumbed to heart failure last week.

Jjumba, 63, who passed away in Lisbon, Portugal on Wednesday last week, joined YMCA in 1994 and became the institute's director in the same year.

At a requiem service to intercede for his soul and to celebrate his life contributions at Namirembe Cathedral in Kampala on Thursday, educationists, politicians, family, religious leaders, and friends hailed his role in promoting vocational education.

The late Dr. Robert Joseph Jumba

 
Mukono South MP, Muyanja Sseyonga, said; "Dr. Jjumba introduced short courses such as tailoring, catering, accountancy, and nursery teaching, among others that helped in the bridging the gap of unemployment in the country."

In recognition of the key role played by Jjumba in strengthening and expanding the institute, YMCA deputy director, Roselyn Birungi said; "With Dr. Jjumba's role, the vocational institute now boost of over 15,000 young people across the country."

Children of the late Robert Joseph Jjumba eulogizing their father

 
The Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, who worked with Dr. Jjumba as the leading partner with Lukwago and Company Advocates described him as a patriotic and exemplary leader the current generation needs to emulate.

"Dr. Jjumba has built me from childhood to where I'm today. He loved and trusted me. He made me an inner person and we worked together on promulgating the YMCA constitution and ensuring that YMCA joins the World Alliance of YCMAs," Lukwago said.

The mayor of Kampala Erias Lukwago laying a wreath on the casket

 
In his sermon, Namirembe diocesan secretary Rev. Can. Nelson Kaweesa commended the deceased for his contribution to the Church which included donating two-acre piece of land to the church at Nkonkonjeru cell, Kyengera in Nsangi town council in Wakiso district.

The widow, Caroline Namukwaya Jjumba eulogized:  "I have learnt a lot from him. He was a hardworking man who encouraged others all the time. Robert loved and cherished education and he sacrificed to educate our children," she said.

The body of late Jjumba will be laid to rest at their ancestral home at  Kyengera, along Masaka road on Saturday, August 3, 2019.

 
Fact file

Jjumba was a teacher by profession. He obtained a Master's degree in Management Science in Human Resource Management at the Ugandan Management Institute, a Master's degree in Education Management and Planning of Education at Makerere University and a PhD in Public Administration at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa.

 
He also taught at Trinity College Nabbingo and was appointed headteacher Kiwawu SSS.

He is survived by a widow and four sons; Ivan Kabugo, David Ssentongo, James Mugerwa, and Andrew Kiggundu.