Canon Rushambuza:

Aug 21, 2009

Many have never seen him. But they have heard about this 82-year-old braggart from Ankole. Mention Rushambuza and people in Ankole will know who you are talking about.

By Nickson Turyahikayo

Many have never seen him. But they have heard about this 82-year-old braggart from Ankole. Mention Rushambuza and people in Ankole will know who you are talking about.

When I met Mzee Zabron Rushambuza, I was impressed by his magnanimity and sense of humour. The father of three will still make fun of you in a way that leaves you laughing along with him. Not out of courtesy but with spontaneous hearty amusement.

Behind his humour and bragging, the healthy-looking widower has a heart of gold. Rushambuza’s philanthropy dates as far back as 1957. Together with his late wife, Jailes Ntoro, he decided to cut down their forest and construct a mud and wattle church at Nyakabirizi village, Ntungamo in Bushenyi district. The church later became St. Steven’s Church of Uganda.

In 1985, he renovated the church; this time, roofing it with with iron sheets and giving it a face lift new paint. Later, his family brought the church down and built a permanent structure, which was completed this year.

And that is just a tip of the iceberg. In 1993, he offered 21 bicycles to all archdeacons of West Ankole Diocese. Later, in early 2002, he gave West Ankole diocese a Toyota Corona, which the then bishop, William Magambo, received on behalf of the diocese. In 2008, he gave the diocese another car, a Toyota Corona. Since 1950, Rushambuza has given 56 Friesians to the church.

In recognition of his dedicated service to the Church of Uganda in Ankole, Bishop Yonah Katonene of West Ankole rewarded him with the honour of a Lay Canon. He was crowned on June 12 at Nyakabirizi, the church he built. It was at the same function that the bishop inaugurated the new structure. His official title is now Canon.

“I was surprised to be chosen from among the many. Being a Canon may force me to change my style of dressing and talking. I believe very many people will now look at me as a role model.”

So, why is he that lavish in giving? “My son, that is not lavish,” he says. “That is just my 10%, which I am supposed to give God.”

He owns a big farm of over 100 Friesians and another with over 200 local breed cattle. He has houses in Mbarara town; one in Kijungu, two commercial buildings on Makan Singh Street and another on High Street in Mbarara town. He also ownsof three buildings in Bushenyi town, one of which is rented by Stanbic Bank. His children are well educated and well placed. One of them, Apollo Mutungi, is the owner of Quality Supermarket in Kampala, while Obadiah Ntebekeine imports cars for sale.

Rushambuza’s house has an imposing structure on the Mbarara-Bushenyi road, with the inscription of “AI MUKAMA” (Oh Lord).

“Those words express a surprise. My first house was a grass thatched hut but see for yourself. You lose nothing when you give God with one heart,” he said. “I only constructed a church, but see; God blessed me with bright children - all very successful.”

Rushambuza’s house is indeed a first-rate home. From the compound’s well maintained lawns and the DSTv dish to the interior’s expensive carpet and leather sofas it can easily pass for a home in Kololo, one of Kampala’s upscale residential areas.

“God is great. I am like the president. Journalists usually look for the president and ministers. Today they are here looking for me. See my house. Ministers wish they could have such a house. Even the President comes to my house. And yet I never stepped in classroom! When I fall sick, I am flown to South Africa,” Rushambuza narrates.

And it was not easy, he continues. “If it wasn’t for God’s mercy, I wouldn’t have become the Rushambuza you hear of today. My father died when I was young. I was raised by my brother, who also died.”

He added that many people think only the rich should give to God. “They forget that the Bible says an old lady offered her button and she was blessed.”

So, what was the secret of his success? “Faithfulness and hard work!” he says. “I got saved in 1942 and worked hard. In 1948, I walked from Bushenyi to Kampala to cultivate cotton in plantations of Baganda. I used to serve as a porter at construction sites and that’s where I gained knowledge and experience in constructing houses.”

Rushambuza is a renowned constructor and this was his main source of income. He said he built primary schools like Bugamba, Ruyonza, Kitagata Marembo and Ndekye. He also worked as an assistant engineer at Mbarara High School.

His main regret in life is the loss of his wife in 2003. He says he has never thought of remarrying. “No one can fit in Ntoro’s shoes. We made all this wealth together. I wish God could perform a miracle and bring her back to see what I now own.”

Rushambuza was born in 1927 to Mutimbo and Kabera. Mutimbo was the leader of Abagoma clan of Igara.

What people say about ankole’s Rushambuza
When the president was meeting opinion leaders and the Bushenyi LC5 chairman said the district had a problem of petty thieves, Rushambuzi rose on a point of information:

I think you should not disturb our visitor with your mistakes. How can you talk about thieves who steal chicken? Who are they? Are they Rushambuza’s sons who come from Germany to steal your chicken in the village? They are your children whom you didn’t take to school! What do you want the president to do? The solution is “Educate your children”.

He went to town and announced he had work to do at his home. In a short time, his lorry was full of people seeking a day’s wage. He drove them home and called out to his wife.

Wife, didn’t you say this morning that you have never seen bayaye (idlers)? Come down and see what they look like. (They all walked back to town without work)

His eulogy during the burial of his wife

If death could be bribed, my wife wouldn’t have died. I would have given it all these poor people to choose at least 10 and spare my wife.

During the burial of his daughter
My daughter, let me bury you. If anything refuses to respond to money, just leave it and bury it. What didn’t I spend for your treatment? You refused to react to all this money, so, bye bye. Rest in peace.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});