LIVE: Requiem Mass for the late Norah Atim (Miss Tourism Northern)

A requiem mass for the Miss Tourism Nothern region, the late Norah Atim is underway at St Augustine Makerere University.

Norah with two others perished in a road accident in Maya, Masaka-Mbarara highway on Saturday afternoon. The deceased include; Resty Namawejje of NTV and Barbra Nakiwolo, a second runner up Miss Tourism Buganda.

Mood in the church sombre, church almost full, the late Atim's picture placed just before alter. She is smiling and gives an impression she could be still living until you come to terms with the fact that on the same picture there is a date; Burial 8th/07/2015.

Present among congregation is Minister Maria Mutagamba, several delegates and staff of the Ministry of Tourism and Uganda wildlife Authority.

Also present is the Executive Director UWA Mr Andrew Seguya and the Executive Director Uganda Tourism Board Mr Steven Asiimwe.

BIOGRAPHY
Atim was born on 8th December 1992 in MUlago Hospital at 2:05pm.

She started school at Mawanda Road Kindergarten from 1995-1997. She then went to Kitante Primary school from 1998-2001, Norah then joined Namugongo Primary school from p4-p7 from 2001-2004 passing with a first grade in PLE.

Meanwhile we are through with Holy Communion, and now the choir switches to the sorrowful old rugged cross hymn.

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.
Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.

From Namugongo primary, Norah joined Rubaga Girls for her secondary, both O and A level, passing with flying colours and later joining Makerere University for a course in Information Technology on Government Scholarship.

Norah competed for the Miss Tourism crown for Northern Uganda and emerged the victor before proceeding to nationals where she settled for the second runner-up position.

Fast Forward, she died on Saturday 4th July 2015 on her way to Mbarara to a Miss Tourism event at the age of 22.

12:40pm: Now laying wreaths, Norah's family come first and are immediately followed by the Minister for Tourism Maria Mutagamba. UTB (Uganda Tourism Board) staff follow. At this time we take notice of the current Miss Uganda, Ms Leah Kalanguka also present.

12:45pm: Miss Tourism queens bring the wreath, oh dear..... they all break down as soon as they reach the coffin, Miss Kigezi is inconsolable.

1:00pm: Speeches start, Norah's God mother steps forward; Norah was a star, she started smiling at 3 months, was a head girl at her school, a mother to her siblings....We shall miss her.

1:07pm: Norah's mother Emily starts her speech, painfully she goes on... Norah was waiting to graduate and we were waiting to eat cake....I will miss my daughter, may her soul rest in peace.

1:22pm: Norah's aunt speaks next, and she will be followed by Minister Mutagamba, meanwhile we are switching to the burial Resty Namawejje, who was in the same car with Norah.

Resty is to be buried at 2pm in Abayita Ababiri, Entebbe road in a place called Kabale.