Msgr. Kyabukasa preached decency by action

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CELEBRATING LIFE

Even after two years since his death and subsequent burial, the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Charles Kyabukasa is still remembered with even greater admiration because of his flowery disposition that was characterised by a rich sense of discipline, decency, social etiquette, and religious piety. 

Although he had the privilege of sharing the popularity of his elder brother, Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala, Kyabukasa opted to keep a low profile. He confined himself to Bukalasa Minor Seminary in Kalungu district, where he spent 58 years teaching English language, Latin, and history. 

One of the people who remembers Kyabukasa with even greater reverence is Rotarian Eng. Pius Mugalaasi. 

He was my Rector when I was at Bukalasa Minor Seminary between 1979 and 1981. I deeply admired the way he spoke and wrote English. 

In fact, it was from him that I learnt my English language skills. He spoke English in an interesting way, like a typical Englishman. You know he studied at Oxford University and I think that is where he got the skills from. 

‘‘Kyabukasa had that perfect articulation and intonation of the language. He had a superb masterly of the phonetics, syntax, and semantics of the language. If he spoke out of your sight, you would think it was a mzungu speaking. My friends and I always tried to mimic his style and somehow, we inherited his skills,” he said. 

“Msgr Kyabukasa was a strict teacher and education administrator. Some people thought he was tough, but for us who passed through his hands, we found him to be a good, kind-hearted man, who loved us and wished us well. He always advised us to be modest in our lifestyle,” Mugalaasi noted. “He gave me one principle that I will never forget. 

He said to me, ‘Mugalaasi, my son, you can always attain your aspirations, no matter your situation. You can use the little you have to attain your big dream.” 

I attribute my relative success to this principle, which I have always applied.” Mugalaasi said that: “Kyabukasa was keen on discipline. Unfortunately, we never understood the value of the discipline he was inculcating in us.
We thought he was just harassing us. We realised the importance of having discipline, later after growing up. Today, I can confidently tell you that if it were not the discipline that Kyabukasa taught me, I would not have been successful in my endeavours.” 

“Msgr. Kyabukasa also taught us time management. He would immediately halt his lesson on hearing the sound of the bell. Even if he was in the middle of the sentence, that is where he would stop.

And if a teacher went into his time, he would enter the classroom and sit behind. The teacher would have no alternative but to conclude his lesson and leave the space for him,” Mugalaasi recalled. 

Kyabukasa was buried at the priests’ cemetery in Bukalasa Minor Seminary, where he spent close to six decades training future priests.

Msgr. Henry Kyabukasa was born November 1, 1929 and died October 7, 2O21