Bushenyi mourns Rushambuza

Oct 28, 2020

His son, Apollo Mutungi, said Rushambuza, 95, died in his sleep on Saturday (October 24, 2020) at about 3:00am at his home in Ntungamo, Nyakabirizi division, Bushenyi district.

CELEBRATING LIFE 

The Bushenyi district community and the entire Ankole region is mourning the death of one of the area's strong pillars and famous lay Canon Zabron Rushambuza aka Ai Mukama.

His son, Apollo Mutungi, said Rushambuza, 95, died in his sleep on Saturday (October 24, 2020) at about 3:00am at his home in Ntungamo, Nyakabirizi division, Bushenyi district.

If human beings knew when they will die and say goodbye to their families and friends, then Rushambuza would have done it earlier in the day because his family and friends had spent the day in a joyous mood at the give-away ceremony of Rushambuza's granddaughter, Ingrid Karungi, a daughter to city businessman, Obadia Ntebekeine Rushambuza. Little did they know that was their last time with the gentle giant.

"What a legacy! What a peaceful rest!" the Bishop of West Ankole Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Johnson Twinomujuni, said in his condolence message.

"We thank God for saving him and for giving him a long and fruitful life. His peaceful rest has also become an additional token. I thank God that we were able to come around and pray for him hours before he passed on. Indeed, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord (Rev.14:13)," the Bishop eulogised.

 

Twinomujuni, together with former bishops William Magambo and Yona Katoneene, attended the party.

The renowned man

Rushambuza was prominent in the region and the entire country over a number of factors.

He has been enterprising and successful in all spheres of life, most especially in serving the Lord.

To express his love and thank God for what he has done for him, Rushambuza wrote "Ai Mukama" on his residential house. He has been popularly known by that name.

Together with other Christians, he to sponsored the construction of Nyakabirizi Church of Uganda. This saw him named a life head of laity. 

Rushambuza shall also be remembered as a God-loving, hardworking, generous, patriotic and cheerful man, with a high sense of humour.

His famous jokes also made him popular. One day, his late wife asked him how abayaye look like. Rushambuza too his lorry to town, where he asked all the so-called bayaaye to board after promising them jobs at his home.

He drove them up to his home and called his wife to come and see the bayaaye.

Rushambuza has been a distinguished farmer, who introduced Friesian cows and modern methods of farming in the region.

 

 

As a result of his successful life, Rushambuza was declared the head or Ishenkuru (grandfather) of Abagoma clan.

"He has left a great legacy for his children and grandchildren," Collin Ntebekeine, one of his grandsons, said.

Christian Herbert Mugumya, a resident, said Rushambuza lived a full life of respect and dignity, with all goodness this world could offer.

"When I was still a student at Ruyoza School, stepping in Rushambuza's compound was a blessing," Mugumya recalled.

His youthful days

In 1938, Rushambuza was among the people who walked from Bushenyi to Buganda to grow cotton before he moved back home (Bushenyi) to engage in other income generating activities such as road works.

In his youthful days, Rushambuza was a builder. He has always boasted about being part of the team that constructed Bweranyangi Junior Primary School, Kyamuhunga Secondary School, Kitagata Primary School, Bugamba Secondary School, Ruhaama Secondary School in Ntungamo district, Mbarara High School and Kibubura Girls Secondary School.

He later left the construction industry after educating his children. At some point, one of his sons, Obadia, requested him quit the construction business and join other ventures, including farming.

 His children

Rushambuza leaves behind children who are successful in the fields of academia and business.

They include city businessman Obadiah Ntebekeine, Apollo Mutungi of Quality supermarkets and Michael Rushambuza of Best Buy supermarkets in Kampala.

The daughter-in-law, Naome Kibajo, is the Sheema North MP.

"He has been a great mentor to us his grandchildren. At his age, he would check on us to see what we were up to in life," Howard Ntebekeine, another grandson, said.

"Grandpa, you were the icon of our family, the focal point that everyone of us attained blessings from. The light that led our path to greatness, the axle of our wellbeing and the epitome of success.

The love that meant the world and the cornerstone of our unity. Your beautiful words guided us to greatness and your jokes shall forever ring joyful bells in our ears and hearts" Julius Turinawe, a relative eulogised.

Rushambuza was laid to rest on Tuesday at his home in Bushenyi district.

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