Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebire laid to rest

By Sophan Niwamanya

apearlnews.com

The body of the fallen Governor of the Bank of Uganda, Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebire, has today been laid to rest in his ancestral home in Ruhiita cell, Kijuguta ward, Northern Division, Kabale Municipality.

In the wee hours of Sunday, January 23, 2022, at Nairobi hospital in Kenya, Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebire, the long-time serving Governor of the Bank of Uganda, died.

Speaking during the funeral service held at Kigezi lower primary playground, his elder brother, Maj. Gen. Timothy Mutebire, hailed the late Emmanuel Mutebire as a person who had been an honest, God-fearing, and kind-hearted man.

Duncan Tumusiime Mutebire hailed his fallen dad for his good sense of security, councilor, protector, and man of all seasons.

Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi katugugu, the minister of security, spoke on behalf of Kigezi leaders, saying that the late was a great jiant in the Kigezi subregion.He went on to say that Kigezi had lost a great man with whom he had many developmental associations and who had done a lot of development during his tenure on earth larger than Kabale, Kigezi, and Uganda in general.

The ex-premier of Uganda, Rt.Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, speaking on behalf of historical friends, said that in the late 50’s he and the late Mr. Rwere met at Rwere primary school and later joined Kigezi lower primary school. He hailed him as a person who was active and fought for unity for the people in the Kigezi sub region and Uganda.

Rugunda described him as a political animal who played a critical role in ensuring the success of his political career in Kabale and asked the public to emulate his deeds if it was to be successful.

Mr. Michael Atingi-Ego, the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Uganda, said that he will be remembered as a blessing to the Bank of Uganda. He hailed him for having managed to control inflation and maintain price stability during his tenure. Meanwhile, Dr. Donald Kaberuka, the Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, together with President Paul Kagame’s envoy, said that the late Emmanuel Mutebire had been successful because of his discipline. He added that his presence in Uganda is a sign of indication and desire for the people of Uganda and Rwanda to live together in harmony and peace.

Speaking as the chief mourner on behalf of President Museveni, the prime minister of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Robbinah Nabbanja, said the Kigezi will always be remembered for producing great men and women who have served the country. In his condolence message, President Museveni hailed the late Mutebire for committing his career to the service of the nation. He said that his first time meeting him was as a student at Makerere University in the 1970’s and helped to restore economic stability after President Museveni captured power in 1986.

Speaking as the main celebrant, the bishop of the diocese of Kigezi, Rt. Rev. Eng. George Bagamuhunda, said that Prof. Emmanuel Mutebire has been a husband, father, Christian leader, giant, and rare person in Uganda and Kigezi.

Bishop Bagamuhunda hailed him as an economist and banker, a man who worked hard, was committed to his work, a man of integrity, was generous, had compassion for the poor and was a steward of God.

Baganuhunda said that how and when life ends is in the authority of God alone, saying that whether ready or not, someday it will all come to an end, saying that everything has its time.

Preaching from the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, Bishop Bagamuhunda said that for everything there is a season and time for every matter under heaven; time to be born and time to die, time to plant and time to harvest what is planted.

He praised the late Emmanuel Mutebire as a blessed individual who laid the groundwork for many by giving orphans unrivaled attention and sacrificing his time on earth for the benefit of others.

In the same vein, the bishop of Kabale diocese, Rt. Rev. Callist Rubaramira, thanked God for the gift of Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebire for being a testimony to everyone, particularly those giving him the gift of faithfulness.

Bishop Rubaramira asked mourners to accept that God called him for a purpose, saying that they should only pray for him to have eternal life in heaven.