Lubega: A life of success and missed chances
According to Monsignor Joseph Ssebayigga of Lubaga, out of the 25 seminarians who enrolled in the 1939 class at Bukalasa Catholic Seminary, 11 graduated and became bishops
According to Monsignor Joseph Ssebayigga of Lubaga, out of the 25 seminarians who enrolled in the 1939 class at Bukalasa Catholic Seminary, 11 graduated and became bishops writes Jenkins Kiwanuka.
Bonny Lubega (Boniface Matthew Lubega), a veteran Ugandan journalist, who died of diabetics and cardiac complications at Rubaga Hospital on February 19, 2005, was a member of that class.
Although he was brilliant, Bonny dropped out of the seminary, joined Busubizi T.T.C. and qualified as a teacher. He taught in Masaka before moving to Katwe, Kampala to become a journalist.
He worked for Obugagga and African Pilot in the 50s and 60s, but perhaps the best paper he ever edited was Mukyala, a women’s magazine that carried more stories about rape than women’s rights.
Ssebayigga, the chief celebrant of the requiem mass held for Bonny at Lubaga Cathedral on February 21, described Bonny as a very pleasant person and a good friend with whom he spent a most enjoyable time at school. “Bonny loved his God,†he said, “and even as he lay in hospital during his last days, he held the rosary close to his heart.â€
As a seminary dropout, Bonny may have over-indulged in his exertions to make the best out of his new mode of life, but he was amicable, humourous, romantic and very pleasant to work with during his youth. He had a number of love affairs, but as long as each affair lasted, Bonny would stick to his lover like glue.
In 1964, he tried to join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but was dropped six months later by the Public Service Commission because of an earlier criminal conviction. He was my friend, and of Kenneth Kereere, a retired Foreign Service officer. We were so close that our colleagues baptised us ‘The Three Musketeers’ after the literary characters.
On leaving ‘The ministry’ as the officers referred to it, Bonny moved to Kenya where, for two years, he worked with Ethiopian Airlines as a marketing and publicity officer. He also worked for a news agency that specialised in syndicating African features to newspapers within and outside East Africa.
He authored several children’s readers, among them: Burning Bush, Port of Honey, Cry Jungle Children and a Luganda dictionary.
He left five unpublished works that include a book on Buganda Kingdom. His estranged wife, Norah, hopes the Government and local publishers will assist the family to have the works published.
Bonny is survived by his estranged wife and three children, all girls.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Bonny Lubega (Boniface Matthew Lubega), a veteran Ugandan journalist, who died of diabetics and cardiac complications at Rubaga Hospital on February 19, 2005, was a member of that class.
Although he was brilliant, Bonny dropped out of the seminary, joined Busubizi T.T.C. and qualified as a teacher. He taught in Masaka before moving to Katwe, Kampala to become a journalist.
He worked for Obugagga and African Pilot in the 50s and 60s, but perhaps the best paper he ever edited was Mukyala, a women’s magazine that carried more stories about rape than women’s rights.
Ssebayigga, the chief celebrant of the requiem mass held for Bonny at Lubaga Cathedral on February 21, described Bonny as a very pleasant person and a good friend with whom he spent a most enjoyable time at school. “Bonny loved his God,†he said, “and even as he lay in hospital during his last days, he held the rosary close to his heart.â€
As a seminary dropout, Bonny may have over-indulged in his exertions to make the best out of his new mode of life, but he was amicable, humourous, romantic and very pleasant to work with during his youth. He had a number of love affairs, but as long as each affair lasted, Bonny would stick to his lover like glue.
In 1964, he tried to join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but was dropped six months later by the Public Service Commission because of an earlier criminal conviction. He was my friend, and of Kenneth Kereere, a retired Foreign Service officer. We were so close that our colleagues baptised us ‘The Three Musketeers’ after the literary characters.
On leaving ‘The ministry’ as the officers referred to it, Bonny moved to Kenya where, for two years, he worked with Ethiopian Airlines as a marketing and publicity officer. He also worked for a news agency that specialised in syndicating African features to newspapers within and outside East Africa.
He authored several children’s readers, among them: Burning Bush, Port of Honey, Cry Jungle Children and a Luganda dictionary.
He left five unpublished works that include a book on Buganda Kingdom. His estranged wife, Norah, hopes the Government and local publishers will assist the family to have the works published.
Bonny is survived by his estranged wife and three children, all girls.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.