Maria D'Arbela loved people and environment

Dec 13, 2019

“Maria was staunch on ensuring that no buveera or plastics are disposed into our plot in Ggaba. Let’s join hands to fight this disastrous disease of buveera as a way of keeping her legacy.”

TRIBUTE 

KAMPALA - Maria Vera Kangoggo D'Arbela, who passed on recently during a visit to her daughter in the US, had many interesting attributes that made her a distinguished personality. She loved people. She was crazy about business. She was passionate about environmental conservation.

Counsel Peter Mulira, a relative, has an interesting observation about Vera:

"She was a special person to all who knew and lived with her. She left a lasting impact on everybody she came in contact with. She converted from the Anglican Church and became a better Catholic than most Catholics. She was our good missionary to the Catholic Church. At times she would even challenge us. She would point out what she considered to be the weaknesses of Anglicans and then tell us how the Catholics are better than us.

The Late Maria Vera Kangoggo Samali D'Arbela with her husband Prof Paul George D'Arbela on their wedding day in 1970 

"She was loyal to her husband, children, and the extended family. She was dedicated to the Mulira family. She was my best adviser although she was always just dictating to me. She was very hardworking and crazy about making money. She would do anything that came her way. She built shops at Munyonyo landing site. She also bought a canoe to fish.

"She was a born-leader. In whichever group she was in, she was at the front seat. She ably nurtured her children and helped them to grow with moral values. We thank the Catholic Church for welcoming her and not treating her as mujjanannyina."

            Prince David Wassajja delivering Kabaka Mutebi's message

Emmanuel Cortino also had an interesting experience with Lady Vera.

"She was a good person who was always there to guide and counsel us. She would not hesitate to call you aside and correct you accordingly if you made a mistake. If she didn't see me in church on Sunday, she would call me or come to my place of work and put it to me to explain why. She was a pillar in the family. We shall miss her smile."

      Vera's children placing a wreath on their mother's casket 

Lady Vera in the eyes of her children

Kevin D'Arbela, who spoke on behalf of his siblings, said of his mother:

"Our mother's life was strongly founded on an appreciation of family ties. Born into the Mulira family, a family formidable in size, accomplishments, and togetherness, she grew up in an environment where one did not differentiate between brother, sister or cousin. They were all one, united by a strong family bond.

"Loyalty was perhaps one of her strongest qualities. Once befriended by her, one would forever remain a friend and ally, never to be betrayed or discarded, and she would repeatedly forgive the faults of those she cared for, sometimes even to her own detriment.

  Vera's children delivering their mother's eulogy 

"She was not on to speak frivolously. Her conversations were often full of advice, lessons, guidance, and counseling for her listeners -not just her children, but extended family members, friends, employees and anyone she encountered in her personal life. She did not miss a chance to pass on knowledge for the betterment of her listeners.

"Our mother was committed, forgiving, supportive and loving, and often sacrificed her own desires for the good of her family. As a true Gayaza alumnus, she never gave up. She would persist in whatever she set her mind to do despite all apparent diversity.

 The Little Sisters of St. Francis invoking the Franciscan Blessing during the funeral mass

"She was a superb project manager. Her construction projects on inherited family land across three sites in Kampala started on minimal capital and completed at a painstaking pace were done with that specific purpose and commitment in mind. She did not believe in selling land, but rather, she encouraged anyone who would listen to put it to good use and through these projects, she lived by example."

The Very Rev. Sr Mary Cecilia Njeri of the Little Sisters of St Francis also admired Vera.

 

 

"Maria D'Arbela as a mother in the family of Dr. D'Arbela must have played a huge role in the relationship the Little Sisters of St Francis share with the family. Mama Vera, as we bid you farewell we say: "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

Dr Apollo Lubambula Mulira also eulogized his sister:

"My little sister Maria was a very large part of me. One of my earliest memories is walking with our mother when she was in labour with Maria at Mukono. There then followed stays at Bulange with Mama Jajja and Taata Jajja where we were thoroughly spoilt, and then Nsamizi, before coming to the United Kingdom.

    Dr Apollo Lubambula Mulira delivering his sister's eulogy

"Maria must have been the youngest pupil to ever attend Gayaza High school because, at the age of three and a half to four years, she stayed with Miss Cox, the headmistress, and with her own nanny until we came to the United Kingdom when she was 11 to 12 years to attend boarding school at Weston Supermare, Somerset.  We stayed for two years before returning to Gayaza and Budo for another two years.

"Dad was able to get us scholarships to the USA, where we went to university; Maria to California and I to Iowa. Until our time in the USA, we were inseparable. Upon graduation, Maria returned to Uganda and I stayed abroad where I have been ever since.  Apart from a brief period when Maria lived in the UK, "Apollo and Maria" were effectively separated!

         A section of mourners during the funeral service 

"One milestone I remember fondly on my rare visits home to Uganda was when I attended Maria and Paul's kwanjula. Sadly, I was unable to attend the wedding. From then on, the "Apollo ne Maria" axis went, with Maria looking after my affairs until All Souls Day, November 2, 2019.

"One more thing - when I heard my brain surgery several years ago, Maria dropped everything to come and see me! Although I have lost one sister, God has blessed me with five others: Nnaalinnya Kagere, Nnaalinnya Lubuga Nabaloga, May, Jean, and Nakimuli, who will look after me in my dotage."

The affiliate choir of St. Charles Lwanga Catholic parish church, Ggaba, in action during mass 

Vera in the eyes of her husband Dr. D'Arbela

Prof. Dr. Paul D'Arbela admired his wife's deep commitment to ecological purity.

"She had a strong belief in preserving the environment and making it better. To her, protecting the environment was a duty and also an act of gratitude to God for giving us a beautiful country, Uganda, the Pearl of Africa. No land in Africa is better than the land in Uganda, where we are well endowed with water, sunshine, and fauna; no extreme weather conditions.

Dr. D'Arbelal placing a wreath on the casket bearing the remains of his wife Vera during the funeral mass at St. Charles Lwanga Catholic Parish Church, Ggaba 

"Maria was staunch on ensuring that no buveera or plastics are disposed into our plot in Ggaba. Let's join hands to fight this disastrous disease of buveera as a way of keeping her legacy."

Prof. D'Arbela later spoke of his wife's commitment to the family.

"Maria met and endured many challenges, but persevered throughout. In 1983, the family relocated to London for the continuing education of the children, where she looked after the family alone, while I was based in Saudi Arabia. In1991, she returned to Uganda, where she built mainly out of her steam and persistence, the family home in Ggaba, while managing family holding in Kalangala, Kampala, Masaka, and Mukono.

Dr. D'Arbela (the husband of Vera) with the children during the funeral mass at St. Charles Lwanga Catholic Parish Church, Ggaba 

"Maria was generally healthy, having survived several motor vehicle accidents over the years. However, in 2017, she developed a heart rhythm abnormality that required taking daily blood thinning tablets to prevent hazards of clotting and strokes. She traveled to the US for the birth of her grand-daughter Georgina, in April 2019. For a few weeks after her birth, she enjoyed holding her in her lap and helping Rachael and her husband Franc.

"The calamity struck on May 9, 2019. She got a large brain hemorrhage and developed complications beyond conceivable stabilization and died suddenly on November 2, 2019. The family and many others will miss her dearly. But we believe in the resurrection. We will meet her in the heavenly kingdom."

 Msgr. Charles Kasibante, second-left, with other Catholic priests during the funeral mass

Kabaka Mutebi Eulogises Maria Vera


In his condolence message delivered by Prince David Wassajja, Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi described the late Maria D'Arbela as an exemplary mother, grand-mother and Christian friend, who always lavished joy and peace to those she met.

Nnabagereka Sylvia Nagginda (sitting left) with other members of Buganda's royal family during the funeral service 

A brief on Vera


Maria Vera Kangoggo Mulira D'Arbella was born in Mukono on April 14, 1946 to Enoch Emmanuel Keyirimba Mulira and Kate Ndagire Kamulegeya.

She attended Gayaaza PS, Westley School, Somerset, UK, Gayaza Girls Sec School, King's College Budo and, Pitzer College, Claremont, California, USA (BA Social Work).


She married Dr. Paul George D'Arbela on November 14, 1970 at Makerere in Kampala.

    Mourners consoling Dr. D'Arbela and his children after the funeral mass 

She is a mother to Kevin, Kathy, Denis, Maria, Paul, Pasquale and Rachael.  She is a grandmother to Sanyu, Hannah, Luke, Sophia, and Georgina.
 
She worked as a social worker at Nsamizi Training Center, Entebbe, Uganda Post Office Kampala (Executive Assistant) and Makerere University Library. She also worked as a property developer and manager in Kampala.

Vera was buried at Katikolo, in Mukono. Her requiem mass at St. Karoli Lwanga Catholic Church, Ggaba, was graced by Buganda Kingdom dignitaries such as Maama Nnabagereka, the Namasole, Prince David Kintu Wassajja, Prince David Namugala, Nalinnya Sarah Kagere, Princess Dorothy Nassolo, Nalinnya Lubuga Agnes Nabaloga, Princess Gertrude Tebattagwabwe, Engineer John Baptist Walusimbi, Rt.  Hon. Joseph Mulwannyammuli Ssemwogerere, Rt. Hon Emmanuel Ssendawula and Rt Hon Nelson Kawalya.

 The minister for Kampala, Hon. Beti Kamya, Hon. Mulwanyammuli Ssemwogerere, Engineer John Baptist Walusimbi, Hon.Mahmood Thobani and Rt. Hon Muganwa Kajura during Vera's funeral mass at Ggaba Catholic parish church

Others who attended include Hon. Mahmood Thobani, Hon. Robert Ssebunnya, Hon. Betty Kamya, Hon. Joyce Ssebuggwawo, Hon Francis Babu, Rt. Hon Margaret Nantongo Zziwa, Rt. Hon. Muganwa Kajura and Auditor General John Muwanga.
 

            Dr. D'Arbela eulogises his beloved wife Vera

 

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