Merab Kivengere fought the good fight for women
Jul 13, 2010
MANY believe she was instrumental in the ordinance of female priests in Uganda. In 1983, her husband became the first bishop to ordain female priests in Uganda.
By Arthur Baguma
MANY believe she was instrumental in the ordinance of female priests in Uganda. In 1983, her husband became the first bishop to ordain female priests in Uganda.
But far from that, she was one of the most adored and qualified vernacular teachers of her time. She was devout and embraced evangelism in the early days. She was also a crusader of girl-child education and contributed enormously to the great missionary work of her late husband. This is what defined Merab Kivengere’s life until she passed away aged 96 years.
She will be laid to rest in Rugarama, Kabale district today at 10.00am. Mrs. Kivengere leaves a legacy that will live for generations. Two months ago, a fundraising dinner was held in her honour and a sh710m four-storey female residents’ structure at Bishop Balam Mukono University, Kabale, was named after her.
The Bishop of North Kigezi Diocese, Edward Muhima, says he met Mrs. Kivengere in 1970, and that encounter shaped his life. At the time, Merab was a young lady married to an evangelist - the late Bishop Festo Kivengere, who died in 1988.
In The Authorised Biography of Festo Kivengere, author Anne Coomes writes: “Fondly called Bishop Festo, he is one of the most remarkable Christians of the 20th century and probably the most famous and best loved evangelists to ever come out of Africa.â€
Mrs. Kivengere shared similar values with her husband. “She was warm and welcoming. I was a student at the time, but I was overwhelmed by her generosity and love. She accepted me into their home and treated me like their own child,†Muhima recalls.
Visitors to Mrs. Kivengere’s home remember meeting a good counsellor and a hospitable mother. Whenever one visited her, she sat quietly knitting sweaters, but she would put everything aside and make one a cup of tea.
Her children remember their mother as a determined, hardworking and God-fearing servant. Joy Mugaju Kivengere describes her mother as a woman who touched the lives of so many people. She was hard working and generous in every way. Before she fell sick, she was full of life and very active. “She stayed at home and instilled in us virtues of devout Christians.â€
Hope Kivengere echoes the words of her sister: “Our mother was committed to the Lord. This is what made her life tick. She was a disciplinarian and loved her family.â€
Mrs. Kivengere was also an active member of Mothers’ Union. A story is told by former students of former Bishop Tucker Theological College (now Mukono University). In 1972, after Bishop Kivengere had been installed, Mrs. Kivengere escorted him to Mukono to visit theology students. She carried herself with simplicity and humility. By the time she left, the students had been touched by her humility.
Mrs Kivengere’s heart for Uganda continued while the family was in exile. During Idi Amin’s reign, the Kivengere family fled into exile. While there, they formed the Relief Education Training for Ugandan Refugees Now (RETURN) fund. The fund benefited prominent Ugandans today, including Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda.
Bishop Muhima recalls that many times, Mrs. Kivengere stayed at home and managed the family when her husband went on evangelism trips. It is her and the late Bishop Kivengere who initiated Muhima into preaching, and also helped him secure scholarships which saw him accomplish his education right up to doctorate level.
When Bishop Muhima was studying in the US, misfortune hit his family back home in Kambuga, then Kigezi district. His family home was razed by fire and all the property was destroyed, leaving his old mother homeless. On his way to Kambuga, he passed by the Kivengere’s home.
“Merab surprised me. She gave me household items, a blanket, dresses and bedsheets to take to my mother. That day cemented my relationship with the Kivengere family,†Muhima remembers.
Who is Mrs. Kivengere’s late husband?
Bishop Kivengere is described as “the Billy Graham of Africa†and “Africa’s Apostle of Loveâ€. Born in 1919 in Rukungiri, Uganda, Kivengere spent his early years herding cattle before starting school in Kyamakanda.
During his secondary education at Kigezi High School, he committed his life to Christ and was an active member of evangelism teams. He later joined Mbarara High School, then Bishop Tucker College in Mukono, where he trained as a primary school teacher.
While working at Kinyasano Primary School, he recommitted his life to Christ and began his evangelistic career.
In 1946, he heard that the Church Missionary Society was looking for people to serve as missionary teachers.
He responded to the call and was sent to Dodoma in Tanzania, a four-day journey in those days. He went, together with his wife and daughter Peace, and was instrumental in spreading the Gospel in that area.
The Kivengeres were later blessed with three more daughters, Joy, Hope and Charity.
The late bishop was a vibrant preacher who preached fearlessly against the evils in Amin’s regime. He was fluent in several languages, and was a committed, loving husband and father.
Peace fondly remembers how he used to ride a bicycle and sweat in the hot sun of Dodoma, and would sometimes bundle one of his children onto it as he went about his errands, just so they would not get bored.
Kivengere later went to London University, where he did a degree in education.
On his return to Uganda, he served as schools supervisor for Kigezi. He continued his preaching ministry. He later joined Pittsburg Seminary. He was ordained a priest in the Anglican Church of Uganda and was the first Bishop of Kigezi.
In 1983, he became the first bishop to ordain female priests in Uganda. He wrote several books, including Jesus Our Reality (1973), The Spirit is Moving (1979) and When God Moves (1976). He also co-wrote, with Dorothy Smoker, Hope for Uganda and the World: The Secret Rehabilitation (1980), I Love Idi Amin (1977), Love Unlimited (1975) and Revolutionary Love (1983).
MANY believe she was instrumental in the ordinance of female priests in Uganda. In 1983, her husband became the first bishop to ordain female priests in Uganda.
But far from that, she was one of the most adored and qualified vernacular teachers of her time. She was devout and embraced evangelism in the early days. She was also a crusader of girl-child education and contributed enormously to the great missionary work of her late husband. This is what defined Merab Kivengere’s life until she passed away aged 96 years.
She will be laid to rest in Rugarama, Kabale district today at 10.00am. Mrs. Kivengere leaves a legacy that will live for generations. Two months ago, a fundraising dinner was held in her honour and a sh710m four-storey female residents’ structure at Bishop Balam Mukono University, Kabale, was named after her.
The Bishop of North Kigezi Diocese, Edward Muhima, says he met Mrs. Kivengere in 1970, and that encounter shaped his life. At the time, Merab was a young lady married to an evangelist - the late Bishop Festo Kivengere, who died in 1988.
In The Authorised Biography of Festo Kivengere, author Anne Coomes writes: “Fondly called Bishop Festo, he is one of the most remarkable Christians of the 20th century and probably the most famous and best loved evangelists to ever come out of Africa.â€
Mrs. Kivengere shared similar values with her husband. “She was warm and welcoming. I was a student at the time, but I was overwhelmed by her generosity and love. She accepted me into their home and treated me like their own child,†Muhima recalls.
Visitors to Mrs. Kivengere’s home remember meeting a good counsellor and a hospitable mother. Whenever one visited her, she sat quietly knitting sweaters, but she would put everything aside and make one a cup of tea.
Her children remember their mother as a determined, hardworking and God-fearing servant. Joy Mugaju Kivengere describes her mother as a woman who touched the lives of so many people. She was hard working and generous in every way. Before she fell sick, she was full of life and very active. “She stayed at home and instilled in us virtues of devout Christians.â€
Hope Kivengere echoes the words of her sister: “Our mother was committed to the Lord. This is what made her life tick. She was a disciplinarian and loved her family.â€
Mrs. Kivengere was also an active member of Mothers’ Union. A story is told by former students of former Bishop Tucker Theological College (now Mukono University). In 1972, after Bishop Kivengere had been installed, Mrs. Kivengere escorted him to Mukono to visit theology students. She carried herself with simplicity and humility. By the time she left, the students had been touched by her humility.
Mrs Kivengere’s heart for Uganda continued while the family was in exile. During Idi Amin’s reign, the Kivengere family fled into exile. While there, they formed the Relief Education Training for Ugandan Refugees Now (RETURN) fund. The fund benefited prominent Ugandans today, including Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda.
Bishop Muhima recalls that many times, Mrs. Kivengere stayed at home and managed the family when her husband went on evangelism trips. It is her and the late Bishop Kivengere who initiated Muhima into preaching, and also helped him secure scholarships which saw him accomplish his education right up to doctorate level.
When Bishop Muhima was studying in the US, misfortune hit his family back home in Kambuga, then Kigezi district. His family home was razed by fire and all the property was destroyed, leaving his old mother homeless. On his way to Kambuga, he passed by the Kivengere’s home.
“Merab surprised me. She gave me household items, a blanket, dresses and bedsheets to take to my mother. That day cemented my relationship with the Kivengere family,†Muhima remembers.
Who is Mrs. Kivengere’s late husband?
Bishop Kivengere is described as “the Billy Graham of Africa†and “Africa’s Apostle of Loveâ€. Born in 1919 in Rukungiri, Uganda, Kivengere spent his early years herding cattle before starting school in Kyamakanda.
During his secondary education at Kigezi High School, he committed his life to Christ and was an active member of evangelism teams. He later joined Mbarara High School, then Bishop Tucker College in Mukono, where he trained as a primary school teacher.
While working at Kinyasano Primary School, he recommitted his life to Christ and began his evangelistic career.
In 1946, he heard that the Church Missionary Society was looking for people to serve as missionary teachers.
He responded to the call and was sent to Dodoma in Tanzania, a four-day journey in those days. He went, together with his wife and daughter Peace, and was instrumental in spreading the Gospel in that area.
The Kivengeres were later blessed with three more daughters, Joy, Hope and Charity.
The late bishop was a vibrant preacher who preached fearlessly against the evils in Amin’s regime. He was fluent in several languages, and was a committed, loving husband and father.
Peace fondly remembers how he used to ride a bicycle and sweat in the hot sun of Dodoma, and would sometimes bundle one of his children onto it as he went about his errands, just so they would not get bored.
Kivengere later went to London University, where he did a degree in education.
On his return to Uganda, he served as schools supervisor for Kigezi. He continued his preaching ministry. He later joined Pittsburg Seminary. He was ordained a priest in the Anglican Church of Uganda and was the first Bishop of Kigezi.
In 1983, he became the first bishop to ordain female priests in Uganda. He wrote several books, including Jesus Our Reality (1973), The Spirit is Moving (1979) and When God Moves (1976). He also co-wrote, with Dorothy Smoker, Hope for Uganda and the World: The Secret Rehabilitation (1980), I Love Idi Amin (1977), Love Unlimited (1975) and Revolutionary Love (1983).