http://ugandaradionetwork.com/a/story.php?s=58210
Dr. Eustace Kamanyire’s tenure as bishop of Rwenzori Diocese has been
described by many as one of development and expansion of the Diocese.
Dr Kamanyire died on Saturday at Nakasero Hospital, some 42 days after suffering a stroke.
Save for the early years in his episcopate when he had to deal with the
split in Rwenzori Diocese during the formation of the South Rwenzori
Diocese in 1984, Dr Kamanyire’s 19-year episcopate has been praised by
the clergy.
At the time he took over from Bishop Yonasani Rwakaikara in 1981, the
diocese covered present day Kasese, Kamwenge, Kyenjojo, Kabarole,
Kyegegwa, Bundibugyo and Ntoroko districts. In 1984, Kasese broke away
to form South Rwenzori diocese.
Right Reverend Reuben Kisembo, the current Bishop of Rwenzori Diocese,
says that during Dr Kamanyire’s time, the diocese offered scholarships
to students from Tooro region to study theology. Kisembo says that had
it not been for Kamanyire’s initiative, several students wouldn’t have
studied because they couldn’t afford tuition fees at that time. Kisembo
and his predecessor, the late Patrick Kyaligonza, were among the
students.
Kisembo also says that Kamanyire trained and mentored several clergy who
are currently serving in senior positions in the diocese. Bishop
Kisembo says that it was the deceased who also revived the Bishop Balya
Theological College in Bukuku, Kabarole district which had been poorly
managed.
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Before taking over from Kyaligonza after the latter’s sudden death in an
accident in 2010, Kisembo was the Principal of the theological college.
Kisembo says that even after his retirement, Kamanyire took part in
church activities and was one of the people who recommended to the
Church of Uganda for the creation of East Rwenzori Diocese which covers
Kamwenge district.
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Rev Canon Agabus Baguma, who worked with Dr Kamanyire at St John’s
Cathedral, says that the bishop played a big role in the development and
expansion of Rwenzori diocese. Baguma says that more than 60 parishes
were created in the diocese during Kamanyire’s time.
Baguma also says that Kamanyire advocated for upholding of the Christian
values, which explains why even after his retirement he remained a
strong anti-gay crusader.
Baguma cites an incident in 2000, when Kamanyire received a letter
banning him from preaching in a church in England over his opposition to
the ordination of gay priests and sanctifying of gay marriage.
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Dr. Kamanyire will be buried on Thursday at St John’s Cathedral Fort
Portal next to his wife Irene, who passed away in May this year.
At his requiem service at Namirembe Cathedral on Monday, Dr George
Tibesigwa, the retired Bishop of Ankole, described Kamanyire and
principled and development-minded. Tibesigwa was among Kamanyire’s
students when he was a tutor and later principal of Bishop Tucker
Theological College between 1971 and 1977. Other students include
retired Bishops Balagadde Ssekadde of Namirembe Diocese and Dunstan
Mutebi of Mityana Diocese among others.
Born in January 1935, Kamanyire had his early education in Tooro before
joining Bishop Balya Theological College in Kabarole district. From
there he went to Bishop Tucker College, the present day Uganda Christian
University, Mukono. He was ordained a priest in 1962 before being
selected to go to Canada for further studies in 1964.
In Canada, he was awarded a degree in Theology from Western Ontario
University and another one in Political Science from the University of
Toronto. He relocated to California in the USA for his Masters in the
Most Sacred Theology. He went back to Toronto for a Doctor of Philosophy
(PhD) which he was awarded in 1986.
In 1977, after the killing of Archbishop Janan Luwum, Kamanyire ran into
exile in Kenya, from where he enrolled as a tutor at Mathieno
Theological College. He returned to Uganda after the overthrow of Idi
Amin and was appointed the Provincial Development Coordinator for the
Church of Uganda. In 1980 he was elected Provincial Secretary of the
Church of Uganda, a position he held until his election as Bishop of
Rwenzori in 1981.
In 2001, Kamanyire founded Sunrise Orphanage home in Karamaga, Fort
Portal municipality. The home looks after children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
He leaves behind three children; two daughters and a son.
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