Bugwere sets send-off date for Ikumbania

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.

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