West Ankole Diocese celebrates life of former Chancellor
Hundreds of mourners from different walks of life on Tuesday 11th June 2019, gathered at St. Peters Cathedral, the headquarters of West Ankole Diocese to celebrate the life of Mr Charlie Tumwesigye, one of the most trusted legal minds that Bushenyi Greater sub-region has had in a span of two decades.
The late Tumwesigye of the famous Tumwesigye and Co Advocates, who served as the Diocesan Chancellor/legal advisor of West Ankole Diocese for a period of Nine years passed on at his home in Bushenyi town on Monday at an age of 61 years.
He succumbed to motor neuron disease having spent long time with it, according to his wife, Mrs. Stella Tumwesigye, with whom they have been married since 2007. This cleared air on the cause of death, following speculations that the lawyer was bewitched.
“I want to clear air on what caused the death of my husband. He fell sick before we came together for marriage. He succumbed to motor neuron condition which later affected his speech and we began using sign language up to the time of his departure,” said the widow
Mourners, one after the other, during the funeral service described the late Tumwesigye as a faithful and trustworthy lawyer who had his Church and country at heart from the time he was enrolled as an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda in 1988.
Speaking to the mourners, who filled St. Peter’s Cathedral Bweranyangi to its capacity, the Bishop of West Ankole Diocese, Rt. Rev. Johnson Twinomujuni, described the late Tumwesigye as a lawyer, who subscribed to truth and upheld it in his service, most especially when he served West Ankole Diocese as a legal advisor.
“He subscribed to truth and upheld it during his service in the Church because the Church upholds truth.” Said Bishop Twinomujuni
The Bishop also eulogized the departed legal mind as a lawyer, who dispensed justice in truth at a time when justice is bought with money even when the dispensers know the truth, but choose to put it aside. He lauded the widow for being a courageous woman and clearing air on her husband’s death.
The retired Bishop of West Ankole Diocese, Bishop Emeritus William Magambo, in whose tenure, the late Tumwesigye served as legal advisor, said the late helped the diocese to settle many court cases outside court and protected the diocese from being drawn to court.
“I served with him for about nine years, but during his time, we settled more than 15 cases and he preferred settling them out of court. Having a Church background, he always encouraged us to use dialogue saying that seeing the Church in court was a same,” Bishop Magambo eulogized
He also described Mr Tumwesigye as a child of God because he did what he could to reconcile God’s people whenever there was a dispute despite many temptations directed to compromise his professionalism.
The Widow, Mrs Stella Tumwesigye said her husband was a good time manager and Christian, who kept attending Church services even when his life on earth was ending.
Mr. Tumwesigye(RIP) is survived by six children, who described him as a father, whose counsel was outstanding over the years. They were represented by Mr. Danson Agaba, a niece to the departed Tumwesigye.
By the time of his departure, Tumwesigye was a chartered member of the Rotary Club of Bushenyi. He will be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Kanoni, Kazo, Kiruhura district on Wednesday.