The Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Paul Ssemogerere has asked politicians to behave well in life to earn the family members respect when they die.
Archbishop said the family and friends have been overwhelmed by the message in praise of the former DP party President, Dr. Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere who died on Friday.
He was speaking on Saturday at the home of Dr. Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere in Rubaga after a requiem mass. The mass was attended by politicians, former Chief Justice Bart Mugunda Katureebe, Justice Remmy Kasule, former Finance Minister Gerald Ssendaula, and many from Rubaga where the late lived in retirement.
Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere who is also related to the late former Democratic President said they are happy that Ugandans are not mocking and continue to praise the late even at his death.
While he did not single out any of the politicians or army officers who died whose death was celebrated with mockery on social media, Archbishop Ssemogerere said because the late lived a humble life, many are mourning him and would like to associate with his good deeds.
There have been incidents of late where Ugandans resorted to social media to celebrate and mock some of the politicians and army officers in death.
Some of those include the death of Major General Paul Lokech and former Security Minister General Elly Tumwine when they die. Gen Tumwine died in September in Nairobi but some Ugandans resorted to social media castigating him for having lived with a sense of entitlement for having shot the first bullet in the NRA bush war that brought the current government into power. Some faulted him and Lokech for the killings during the Kyagulanyi riots at the beginning of the last elections.
Several members of Rubaga Cathedral praised the Late Dr. Paul Semogerere and his wife, Germina Ssemogere for being prayerful. Dr. Paul Ssemogerere was also hailed for living what many described as a humble lifestyle.
Ssemogerere’s widow Dr. Germina Ssemogerere told mourners that her late husband valued life and did not approve of killing any human being. She said that the late did believe in using arms including killings for one to capture state power.
Germaine and Paul Ssemogerere were about to celebrate fifty years of marriage. The elder son Kaloli Ssemogerere repeatedly broke down in tears as he paid tribute to his father. He was concerned about the future of his frail mother in the absence of Dr. Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere. He described his father as a convert and a man of conviction for democracy.
While President Museveni and his cabinet were to accord the late Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere an official burial by having his body viewed at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, the family said it has opted for a simple send-off. Former MP, John Kawanga, also Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere’s brother told mourners that President Museveni accepted the family’s request.
Dr. Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere will be buried on Monday While Museveni and Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere held divergent political opinions, they each respected one another. President Museveni once described Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere as the only “decent” man in a room while at the Nairobi peace talks with Tito Okello’s UNLA regime.
-URN
