Goodbye Maama Kalisizo, Maama Valeria

 

 

Maama Jus is our aunt, but we all call her mother. That phone call sounded like a bombshell. "Kiki"! My wife Monica asked. Both of us were panting, thinking of what could have gone wrong.

 

Maama Valeria was a mother to hundreds of many of us that went through her caring hands, each in their own way. She was sickly and visited the hospital, but none of us thought that she would die. There were no signs of death at all. She was actually beginning to heal and to think of going home as she had been discharged from hospital.

 

Maama was exceptionally calm and composed. She was a very positive person, a silent fighter that did not lose a battle, especially when it came to the morality and education of her children. She taught her children values and life skills that will take them far in life. She never showed any signs of failure or indignation. She was a prayerful woman and a team player; a crowd puller of sorts, yet meek and humble. 

 

When she lost her husband, she took care of her children with a positive attitude. Actually, she added unto the family by taking on many more that are not her biological children. They all call her mother. I don't remember seeing her rushing for anything. Her level of composure and sobriety were immeasurable. 

 

 Maama Valeria

Way back in the 90s, she lost her son, John Rutayisire, who was by far, a special person; a man that touched every soul he met in life. He was killed in northern Uganda during the insurgency of the Lord's Resistance Army. The bus in which they traveled was burnt and many lives were lost. We were slightly younger and naïve, but we all feared what would happen to her in these trying moments. She pulled through it remaining sober, prayerful, hopeful and firm. She remained the anchor of her family, her children. She challenged all of us who seem broken by simple challenges of life. 

 

We buried her on Friday, June 7, at Bulinda Kalisizo in Kyotera district at her home. The church paid her back by the many prayers we received at home. Someone whispered to me while we were praying for her and the family on Saturday, a day after her burial, "It is now clear when you do good deeds, those good deeds come back to you a thousand fold". She was accorded one of the most decent and befitting burials with mourners that were extremely calm and composed all through the send-off ceremony. 

 

The rewards of having children and teaching them life values appear in many scenarios including the times of death and burials. Hundreds of people turned up for her send-off. You would hear a pin drop throughout the service. No one seemed to be in a hurry for anything, pretty much like she lived her life. It was humbling; full of lessons to us the living. 

 

If we truly meditated on life after life, the good deeds of good men and women would be our foundation for a life defined by only good deeds. Many people that I talked to while bidding farewell to her swore to copy one thing or two about her to define their lives, shape their lives. 

 

To the multitudes that graced her burial, recite a prayer for her because that is the only thing we can give to the dead. It is very important yet free. Let's do it daily for 30 consecutive days and surely, she will be elevated to another level. 

 

To the children: your mother lived a full life. She taught you the value and virtues of life that form part of the rock you are. The morality and values we see and appreciate in you are a result of her efforts. Let's celebrate her life with the hope of seeing her again, on judgment day.

 

Rev. Fr. Joseph Matovu, parish priest for Kimanya parish on Saturday while officiating mass at home after burial reminded us of the Latin words inscribed in the middle of the cemetery at Gaba National Major Seminary reading thus, "Quod estis, quod fuimus; quod sumus eritis" translated in English to read, "Where you are, we were and where we are, you will be". It is important to reflect on the meaning of life so that we are human and humane. Then, crime would automatically scale down rather rapidly. Maama, rest in peace. 

 

And may the good Lord take care of the family too.