NTUNGAMO – The Catechist of Nyakashozi Catholic Centre in Sacred Heart Deanery, Luke Atwijukire, has urged Christians to seek knowledge and take refuge in Christ as they prepare for life after death.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Atwijukire delivered the solemn remarks on Sunday during the emotional burial ceremony of the late Owakubariho Alex at Kyamigango grounds in Ntungamo District.
Speaking at the burial, the head of the family, Amon Kankore Abaine, encouraged residents to join self-help groups to ensure they receive dignified burials during difficult times.
He also criticized Ntungamo Municipality Mayor Jacob Kafureeka, popularly known as Jack Jex, accusing him of offering inadequate support to the bereaved family and disrespecting them.
Family members further alleged that the mayor delayed taking the deceased to the hospital after the road crash, claiming Alex remained on the roadside for nearly an hour despite still being alive.
“We believe that if the mayor had immediately put him in his vehicle and rushed him to the hospital, our son might have survived. Instead, there was hesitation because blood was coming out, and this worsened the situation,” one relative said.
The family added that they intend to seek justice through the police and courts over the circumstances surrounding Alex’s death.
Relatives also described the mayor’s contribution to the burial arrangements as insufficient, saying it consisted of a casket, 50 kilograms of maize flour, 30 kilograms of beans, and UGX 200,000. They argued that the support did not reflect the seriousness of the incident.
The deceased’s mother, Tumuhairwe Deudanta, remembered her son as a humble, hardworking, and trustworthy man who earned a living as a bicycle boda boda rider in Ntungamo Municipality.
Owakubariho Alex reportedly died after being involved in a road crash with a vehicle driven by Mayor Jacob Kafureeka at the One Way Junction along the New Mbarara–Kabale Road in Ntungamo Town on Friday evening.
During the funeral, Ismail Rwegasha of Madarasat Nuwa Primary School in Kakoba, Mbarara, appealed for support to care for the deceased’s two young children following the loss of their father.
Tumuhairwe Duncan, the Vice Chairperson of LCIII Central Division, described the deceased as a trusted and respectable gentleman.
He praised businesspeople and fellow bicycle boda boda riders in Ntungamo for supporting Alex during his lifetime.
Duncan also appealed to the bereaved family not to blame the mayor, saying the incident was an accident and that road crashes can happen to anyone.
The late Owakubariho Alex, who died at the age of 48, is survived by his three devoted sons: Nabaasa Felix, Ategyeka Favor, and Akoragye.
Meanwhile, the authorities have since confirmed that investigations into the fatal crash are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
