Rukingiri, Uganda – A somber mood enveloped Rwenshekye Rubanga Buyanja in Rukungiri district as mourners gathered to bid farewell to Benon Bitwiire, affectionately known as Uncle Ben, a renowned mathematician and educator.
Described as a gallant educationist, Uncle Ben was remembered for modeling minds, instilling values, and igniting a passion for learning in countless students, particularly in the Kigezi Region.
During the burial service, the North Kigezi Diocesan Bishop, Rt Rev Onesmus Asiimwe, preached to the mourners, emphasizing that death is a mystery known only to God, and the answer lies in Jesus Christ.
Bishop Asiimwe urged the mourners to accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior, citing Him as the only way, the truth, and the life.
Uncle Ben’s wife, Jessica Kyoshabire Bitwiire, fondly remembered their 45 years of marriage, marked by love, laughter, and companionship.
She hailed her late husband for his integrity, humility, and compassion, describing him as empathetic, caring, and loving. The couple was blessed with six children and eleven grandchildren.
Hon. Natukunda Medius Kaharata, the Rukungiri district Woman MP and daughter-in-law, eulogized Uncle Ben as a dedicated and committed teacher who served with perfection.
She thanked the family and friends for standing with them during the trying moments.
The children of the deceased, led by Akampumuza Benson and Natukunda Thiona, remembered their father as a peace-loving, soft-spoken, and generous individual.
They expressed gratitude for his role in nurturing and educating them.In a message representing the government, Hon. Namanya Naboth, the Rubabo county legislator, urged the public and political leaders to shun politics of identity and division, which he noted were tearing the country apart. Instead, he emphasized the need for unity and socio-economic transformation for the common people.
The late Uncle Ben Bitwiire, aged 74, leaves behind a wife, five children, and eleven grandchildren and his legacy as a devoted educator and loving family man will be remembered for generations to come.