Archbishop Kaziimba: Sarah Mateke was a humble churchgoer

The Archbishop Church of Uganda, Stephen Kaziimba, has mourned the sudden death of Uganda’s Minister of State for Defence, Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi.

The woman representative for Kisoro District died of a heart attack.

Mateke is the 5^th law maker to die in the 11^th parliament after former Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, legislators Patrick Okabe, Charles Engola, and Cecilia Ogwal.

While leading funeral service at parliament, Archbishop Kaziimba described Mateke as a humble churchgoer who was comfortable sitting behind, unlike other MPs and leaders who come to church late and expect to occupy the front seats.

“She has been coming to worship. She has been a humble lady; she comes and sits far in the corner where you can’t see her. But some other people, especially Members of Parliament and leaders, when they come late, they move forward. Even when there is no seat, they look around. Haven’t you seen me? But Sarah was always sitting behind,” the Archbishop said.

Kaziimba said if you don’t introduce some MPs, you are in trouble; you may not have a glass of water the next day. “Sarah has been very humble. Sometimes, people in the cathedral didn’t know that she worships. And I want to thank her for her contribution to the church. We must pray for Mzee Mateke and the family. This is a great loss”.

While leading the prayers, he revealed that he was saddened about Mateke’s untimely death and also thanked Speaker Among for organising the prayers and vigil at Parliament for the former Kisoro District Woman MP.

“Humanly speaking, we are saddened by the untimely death because we can’t know what God planned from our side. But 50 years, really, we were still expecting a lot. I was shocked when I learnt about her death,” he said.

Kaziimba admitted that although he spends so much time preparing people on earth for heaven, he is also scared of dying, even if his death means going to heaven, and he promised to organise prayers for all MPs because the current 11^th Parliament has lost many of its members.

“I want to pray for you that God will give you strength because we have lost many people from this house, and we pray that God will continue taking care of each one of you. You know death is meant for human beings and other creatures, but no one of us can say I am ready to die; we still have services,” said Kaziimba.