REVIVAL EVOLUTION IN MZEE Y.K MUSEVENI'S FAMILY.

By Musa Rwamigoye 

 

To begin with, we need to know that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa originates from Ankole Pastoralists community which specialized in nomadic or semi-nomadic cattle herding. Its recorded that pastoralists held high social prestige tied directly to the size of their herds. There daily activity centered on Cattle Culture; Ankole long-horned cattle which served as the ultimate measure of wealth, status, and currency. They provided milk, meat, blood, and hides hence becoming the most treasured domestic animals for human life.

Traditional society in Ankole was a centralized Bantu kingdom historically governed by a monarch called the Omugabe /Nyakusinga (King), society was famously defined by a unique dual-strata social structure, an economy centered around the iconic long-horned Indigenous Ankole cattle, and deep-rooted cultural rites or observances (Traditional beliefs passed down from the past to the new generation).

Among the Banyankore iconic Rites there were; 

i). Rites of Passage; Ceremonies like naming newborns, coming-of-age transitions, and traditional marriage steps that change a person’s social role.

ii). Ancestral and Death Rites: Practices designed to guide a soul to the afterlife or honor family elders so they become respected ancestors.

iii). Seasonal and Healing Rites: Community gatherings, rainmaking prayers, or herbal blessings led by traditional guides to protect health and harvest.

NB; Ankole Pastoralists like President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s family treasured such observances because of traditional Identify, Unity and Continuity/cohesion. For along period of time, President Museveni’s family lived in that life until revival movement got established in Ankole by East African Revival evangelists pioneers from Gahini – Rwanda; Blasio Kigozi, Yosia Kinuka and Paul Gahunde.

 

THE BIRTH OF BORN AGAIN IN ANKOLE.

It is recorded that in 1935, Dr Joe Church requested Rev. Arthur Clark a missionary serving as Rural Dean of Ankole at Ruharo-Mbarara to arrange and allow missionaries from Rwanda to come and preach to Anglicans of St James Church Ruharo. It is said that Dr. Joe Church convinced Rev. Arthur Clark that Revivalism has an element of holy spirit which strengthens Anglicans to remain committed.

In January 1936, a team of three Ugandan evangelists serving in Gahini-Rwanda visited St. James Ruharo for one week gospel preaching to the entire Anglican community in Ankole and Bible study for the clergy. The three revivalists are; Yosia Kinuka (Munyankole), Blasio Kigozi (Muganda) and Paul Gahindi (Munyarwanda). Under the theme “OKUZAARWA OBWAKABIIRI” meaning to be born again, the first revival crusade took place at Ruharo hill and at the end after Yosia Kinuka had given out testimonies entangling giving life to God, many Anglicans in Ankole ended up accepting Jesus Christ as their savior. 

 

Among the Anglicans that got saved in Ankole included; Erieza Mugimba, Kabaza Zabroni, Sam Bitahwa, Yoda Nyondo, Rwakifene, Anania Mulumba, Amos Mukasa , Edward Kakudidi, Andereya Katebka, Erisa Mutegaya, Mariam Kakibara (the first woman to be baptized in Ankole), Geraldine Sabiti (wife to Rev. Eric Sabiti) and Rev. Eric Sabiti who later became first Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire from 1966-1974. In fact, in 1936 when the revival mission occurred, Rev. Eric Sabiti served as a curate at St James Ruharo. 

Furthermore, people like Late Rev.Yosamu Mucokori attended the crusade but never accepted Christ not until in 1938 when he consulted senior revivalists Amos Mukasa and Kaapa. 

It is recorded that six months after the mission, Rev. Arthur Clark again invited Yosia Kinuka’s group for follow up and Continuity of revival preaching and good enough Dr. Joe Church traveled with the group. In fact, it said that in the first crusade at Ruharo Hill more than 20 students of Mbarara High School accepted Christ as their savior and immediately started returning back properties stolen from their fellow students. Furthermore, Church History in Ankole shows that the revival crusade of January 1936 was the beginning of (Okujunwa/Okurokoka) in Ankole.

NB; Many revivalists takes Yosia Kinuka as the first pioneer revival movement crusader but initial/earliest history shows that Rev. Aloni Muyinda father of Chrisytom Cook, the first child to be delivered by C-section, by Dr Cook at Mengo Hospital. Church History of Uganda says that in 1893, Aloni Muyinda witnessed the manifestation of holy spirit to George Pilkington at Kome island. Aloni Muyinda had escorted George Pilkington for meditation at Kome Island on lake Victoria and used to share same hut. From there and there and then, people who believed in Aloni Muyinda and Pilkington started believing that revival movement / Okujunwa began that day. In fact, Aloni Muyinda was the grandfather of former state house comptroller Richard Muhinda and Stella Karuhanga, wife of retired politician Hon Elly Karuhanga Rutarendeza former MP Nyabushozi. 

 

THE INCEPTION OF REVIVAL MOVEMENT IN PRESIDENT MUSEVENI’S FAMILY.

In 1939, Rev. Eric Sabiti was transferred from St James Ruharo, Mbarara where he had served as a curate from 1933 to St Luke Kinoni, Rwampara as Parish Priest purposely to expand Anglicanism by converting more believers. As a fully trained priest, immediately after Eric sabiti stepping at St Luke Kinoni, he embarked on organizing and hosting regular revival movement missions with the purpose of attracting Anglicans in areas of Mpororo to accept Christ as their savior (Okujunwa/Okurokoka) and improve their spiritual transformation.

 

In few months, Kinoni had become a center of revival movement fellowship to all revivalists in Mpororo community hence gradual downfall of Africa Traditional Customs in same community. Tumutendereze Yesu had become the main greeting phrase. Like Matthew 28:19 states: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”., Erica Sabiti went on ground and converted many people in the areas of Mpororo to revival movement fellowship . By God’s grace, Late Esteri Kokundeka was one of the converts of Rev. Eric Sabiti. To know that Rev. Eric Sabiti was deep rooted in revival movement fellowship, he went on and made his home a residence of all women and youth who had wholeheartedly and faithfully joined revival movement fellowship but encountering expulsion from their homes by either their parents or guardians who were diehards of African Traditional Customs.

 

In other words, Traditional pastoralists perceived the coming and establishing of Christianity/ Revival movement fellowship (Okujunwa) as a serious negative attitude on their ancestor’s culture. For instance, Christianity advocated for monogamy marriage, gender balance, change of diet, change in food preparation, dress code change and change in leadership and governance of which all were perceived as negative behaviors on traditional culture. Records have it that a section of traditional cattlemen got disturbed after their women had drastically changed from their initial behaviors. It is recorded that women who joined revival movement unveiled themselves to public started eating chicken and boiling milk of which it had never happened in the culture of cattle keepers. Eventually, devoted and staunch Banyakoe and Bahororo men perceived the coming of Christianity as the end of the world hence becoming more hostile to revival movement fellowship. Christianity because it had negative attitude on their ancestor’s culture. 

 

For istance Christianity advocated for monogamy marriage, gender balance, change of diet, change in food preparation, dress code change and change in leadership and governance of which all were perceived as a negative attitude on traditional culture. Cattlemen got disturbed after their women had drastically changed from their initial behaviors. It is recorded that women who joined revival movement unveiled themselves to public started eating chicken and boiling milk of which had never happened culture of traditional pastoralists. Eventually, staunch and devoted traditional pastoralists started perceiving the coming of revival movement fellow as the end of the world hence becoming more hostile to all its crusaders and related evangelists.

Foristance, one paternal uncle of Late Esteri Kokundeka know as Mzee Binotsi expelled all his family members who had joined revival movement fellowship from his home. Mzee Binotsi was the father of Aidah Birakwate and Mzee Rutsibika who recently ascended to heaven. In fact, Mzee Binotsi was the paternal uncle (Ishento) of Late Mzee Eriya George Rutanyohoka a product of Rev Eric Sabiti in Christianity faith. Actually, it is recorded that Eriya George Rutanyohoka was selected by Esteri Kokundeka to be one of the God parents one of her children Yoweri Museveni because of his strong faith in Christ.

 

Despite many women facing strong challenges in their marriage because of joining revival movement fellowship, Late Esteri Kokundeka persisted and continued with practicing revival movement fellowship after being mentored by Rev.Eric Sabiti and his wife Geraldine Sabiti. In fact, in early 1940s, Rev. Eric Sabiti posted Esteri Kokundeka mother of President Museveni to serve as the pioneer catechist of Nyarubungo C.O.U after it had been shifted from Kangongi. Lay Can Mzee Eliab Bakatagura, 100 years old now and a residence of Rurengye Village , Kinoni Rwampara is one person still living that witnessed Esteri Kokundeka serving as a catechist at Nyarubungo C.O.U and at the same time as a nursery teacher at Nyarubanga Church school. He also testified that Esteri Kokundeka played a big role in organizing revival movement fellowship members belonging to (Abomushana Club). Its on record that Rev. Eric Sabiti and his wife Geraldine Sabiti were confidants of Esteri Kokundeka in the field if Christianity faith. 

 

Like Proverbs 16:3 says: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”, God blessed Esteri Kokundeka’s plans and on August 3, 1947, at St. Luke Church his family members including his husband Amos Kaguta and son Yoweri Museveni were baptized by Rev. Eric Sabiti. However, in 1950s after Rev.Eric Sabiti had left Kinoni, Anglicans of Kagongi seceded from Nyarubungo C.O.U and reinstated Church. 

 

To know that even Ester Kokundeka had strongly connected her life to revival movement fellowship, she would walk on long distances preaching the gospel in areas of Ankole and sometimes crossed to Rwanda. The women revival movement fellowship contemporaries of Esteri Kokundeka at St Luke Kinoni included; Ms Katyanku and his daughter Leya Karara (First Diocesan Mother’s President Ankole Diocese), Edith Kayonga from Nyabikungu, Kobukyeire, Ms Mutahi, Ms Jaylace Tigangamba, Ms Geraldine Sabiti, Ms Rwehabura Karwecwera and at that time Chief Ernest K. Katungi was serving as Head of Laity of Kinoni Parish. 

Furthermore, Esteri Kokundeka enjoyed revival movement fellowship at St Luke Kinoni with church priest Rev. Eric Sabiti and Lay reader Mukasa Bidebere who were later replaced with Rev. Festo Karyahwari and Lay reader Elphaz Muhoozi. However, Esteri Kokundeka’s cousin Lay reader Eriya George Rutanyohoka would be sent by Rev. Eric Sabiti to various Churches and missions to preach the gospel but much of the time he would be at St Luke Kinoni assisting the church leaders. In fact, Eriya Rutanyohoka, Esteri Kokundeka and Rwehabura the father of Tumusiime James, CEO of Igongo cultural center have a strong hand in the establishment of Rwemiyanje Church in Rwampara.

It is also recorded that with guidance of Geraldine Sabiti, in a good faith Esteri Kokundeka ended up joining a group of revival women at Kinoni that regularly practiced freelancer revival preaching in various missions. 

Like any person whose life had fully been given to Jesus Christ , Esteri Kokundeka never faced any revival setback when Kaguta Family settled in Nshwerenkye, Rwakitura. In fact, Esteri Kokundeka made sure that all children belonging to her grew up under Church/Christianity customs. Foristance, the Kaguta Family was so instrumental in the Construction of the first Nshwere Church in 1970. To know that Esteri Kokundeka had strongly rooted her Children to Christianity Faith, also her daughter Violate Kajubiri managed to contribute Ugx150# towards the construction of Nshwere Church. In her wisdom, she obtained Ugx150# from the fundraising which she had organized with her fellow scripture union members at Bweranyangi. 

Furthermore, to know that Esteri Kokundeka was deeply established in revival movement fellowship, when the National Resistance Army(NRA) war escalated and Milton Obote embarked on massacring Luwero like goats in abattoir, she arranged a Church thanksgiving at Nshwere Church and offered her beloved radio to Rev. Birungi as a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Esteri Kokundeka and her husband Amos Kaguta loved their radio because it was that same radio where they used to get information/news entangling the NRA war commanded by their son Yoweri Museveni. 

Late Omubingire, a parishioner of Nshwere Church bought Esteri Kokunde’s radio by valuing its price to that of a yearling Ankole bull (Omubingire took the radio and gave a bull to the Church). When President Yoweri Museveni and his fellow comrades took over power in 1986, Esteri Kokundeka and his brothers in living around Nshwerenkye community including; Rubega, Katsinde and Eriya Rutanyohoka organized a thanksgiving at Nshwere Church faithfully to thank God for enabling their son to win the liberation war. Even after President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had firmly gained state powers as a constitutional president, Esteri Kokundeka in her aging years remained a committed revival movement fellowship associate until November 13, 2001 when she ascended to heaven. 

Honestly, Esteri Kokundeka did a tremendous in the field of spreading and preaching Christianity faith in Ankole. She will always be remembered of being a staunch revival associate, committed revival evangelist and a prayerful warrior who preferred family stability through Bible reading, regular praying and church mission.

Again, she will always remain the pioneer woman in the clan of Beene Rukaari to serve as a revival evangelist. RIP ESTERI KOKUNDEKA!.

 

NB; Therefore, the consecration of Pastor Kokundeka Patience Rwabwogo Museveni as the Episcopal Bishop has its roots blessings from the remarkable personal church work performed by Esteri Kokundeka in various Christian churches and communities . Honestly, there is no doubt if one says that Esteri Kokundeka’s devotion to serve God transcended to Pastor Kokundeka Patience Rwabwogo. This means that God was present in President Museveni while naming Pastor Patience. Spiritually, it was not a coincidence but rather a providence for President Museveni to name his second daughter Kokundeka Patience. Like Jeremiah 1:5 states: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations”., the unfinished God’s work that was not completed by Esteri Kokundeka was to be completed by Pastor Kokundeka Patience Rwabwogo Museveni.

 

Additionally, Pastor Kokundeka Patience Rwabwogo married a man who grew up from a staunch revival family. The history of Chairman Odrek Rwabwogo’s family shows his parents were strong Christian believers as their earthly life centered on serving the living God first. The church records of Late Tomosi and Erina Rwabwogo since their marriage until they descended to heaven shows that they were true devoted Christians. Therefore, there is no way how Pastor Kokundeka Patience’s calling from God to serve as a pastor would encounter hindrances from his husband’s family. 

 

Furthermore, maternal family of Pastor Patience Rwabwogo also played a big role in the spiritual development of pastor Kokundeka Patience Rwabwogo. It is recorded that the Christianity faith within First Lady Janet Museveni originate from the revival life her parents lived. Late Edward Kataaha and Late Erina Kyaremera were devoted Christians throughout their life. In fact, Erina Kyaremera is among the first group of women in Ntungamo to join revival movement fellowship. She also preached the gospel in various church missions in different parts of Mpororo. 

 

A blessed consecration to you Pastor Patience Kokundeka Museveni Rwabwogo to the Episcopal Office of Bishop.

I Abakorinso 9:16 “Ku ndaabe nimbuurira engiri, tiinyine ki ndikwehimbisizaho, ahabw’okuba nimbuurira ngyemesereziibwe; kandi ku naakuba ntabuuriire engiri, nkaareeba enaku”.