Bugwere sets send-off date for Ikumbania
Deceased: The Ikumbania waving to his subjects in the past.PHOTO/MUDANGHA KOLYANGHA.
Bagwere cultural institution officials and government have set February 20 as the official burial date of the fallen Ikumbania, Bishop John Chrysostom Weyabire.
Mr Fredrick Koire, the institution’s officer in-charge of protocol, while confirming the date to Sunday Monitor on Friday said the funeral arrangements have been finalised.
“Preparations to accord him a state burial are in high gear. However, the general public should also understand that they will not be allowed to come closer to the casket as we are observing the Covid-19 guidelines,” Mr Koire said.
Mr Koire said the body will on Monday be taken to Pastor Robert Kayanja’s Miracle Centre Church for prayers.
He added that on Tuesday February 19 the body will arrive in Budaka and a funeral service will be held at Budaka Saza Ground before heading to the deceased leader’s ancestral home in Kenkebu.
High-ranking district leaders from the four districts of Pallisa, Budaka, Butebo and Kibuku were on Friday expected to discuss the burial arrangement of the Ikumbania.
The residents [subjects] and some leaders from the Bagwere cultural institution have described the Ikumbania as a “strong leader” who had played a great role of unifying them.
The Budaka District Council passed a resolution to hold a session to mourn the fallen cultural leader.
During the Thursday meeting chaired by the speaker, Mr Sam Mubalya, council resolved to observe three days of mourning.
The motion was moved by Mr Abdu Karim Mulekwa, the leader of government business who also doubles as the district LC5 vice chairperson.
Mr Mulekwa said council has to honour the great contribution made by the Ikumbania.
“We [council] have joined the rest of the subjects to mourn our cultural leader who has been so supportive in addressing and fighting poverty, uniting his subjects. He has been so loyal to the district council. His death is a big blow to the institution and the Bagwere community in general,” he said.
Several councillors described the deceased as a humble, supportive leader who worked hard to restore and maintain the practices and norms of the Bagwere identity.
“We shall miss him greatly. We fear we might not get some one to fit in his shoes,” Mr Kepher Nayepe, a councillor representing Mugiti Sub-county, said.
Background
The Bagwere community live in four districts of Pallisa, Butebo, Budaka and Kibuku. The Ikumbania, his Dr John Chrysostom Weyabire was born in 1957 in Kenkebu Sub-county, the present–day Kibuku District.
