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Canon Edith Mary Babumba

Edith Mary Babumba (Edith Mary Vanessa Nkoba, born 15th November 1935) is a |[[Canon]] in the Church of Uganda- West Buganda Diocese. The West Buganda Diocese is one of the thirty one Dioceses’ that constitute |the Church of the province of Uganda currently headed by the Archbishop of Uganda, The Most Reverend Henry Luke Orombi. The Church of Uganda is a member of the Anglican Communion with the Church of England as the mother church headed by the Church of EnglandArchbishop of Canterbury and Her Majesty the Queen of England as it’s supreme Governor.

Early Years.

Edith’s grandmother was a Princess and sister to Rukirabasaija David Kasagama Kyebambe III, Omukama of the Kingdom of Toro;hence the close link to the |Royal family of Toro, Edith spent most of her early years in the Royal Palace (Ekiikali) and grew up with the other children of the royal family. They were educated privately and taught the Toro culture and etiquette. They also had to learn such skills as Embroidery, Beads making, reading and writing. She attended primary school in Fort PortalFort Portal and later joined Mt. St. Mary’s College Namagunga for the equivalent of senior secondary school now. While in Namagunga she made friends with many students from other parts of Uganda one of her long term friends from those school days is Mrs. Theresa Mbire a prominent Woman entrepreneur. Edith’s education came to an abrupt end when she met and got married to Dr. Eria Babumba in 1952. At that time Dr. Babumba was a young medical Doctor working in Fort Portal and he became friends with Rukirabasaija Omukama George Kamurasi Rukidi III. He also became the defacto doctor of the family. The King was impressed by his good personality and professional skills and felt greatly indebted to him when he saved the life of one of his son’s Prince Jimmy Mugenyi. After this incident the relationship between the King and Dr. Babumba became very close and the King wished him to marry one of his “children”. The King’s choice for a future wife for Dr. Babumba fell on Edith. Edith wanted to continue with her studies but there was no way she could disobey her Uncle, the King. After a lot of negotiations and pressure from her Aunties, she reluctantly accepted his marriage proposal. The Omukama was very pleased and the wedding preparations went ahead - They were wedded on May 22nd 1952 in Fort Portal and a grand reception followed in the Palace. The King ordered that the “Amakondeere ‘(Royal drums) would be played at their wedding. (Such an honour is only for the Princes and Princesses of Toro)

Coming to Buganda and life in Buganda.

After the wedding, Edith left her home of Toro in 1953 at the age of 18 to come and settle with her new husband in Mulago, Kampala. In a letter from the Dean of St. John’s Church, Kabarole, Toro, dated 7th November, 1953, Absolomu Kuku introduces her to the Parish priest of Mulago, Kampala as wife of Dr. Babumba who used to attend church in Rumi but now moved to St John’s and she had been taught everything expected of a Christian. Mrs. Babumba was made to feel at home by her in-laws, the friends she has made since settling in Buganda and members of the Church who have been very instrumental in her life.

Starting family. On March 6th 1954 the young couple’s first born, John Wesley was born at Mulago Hospital Kampala. They were later to be blessed with more children. Mrs. Babumba has lived through all the turmoil that has gone on in Uganda. Together with her husband and young family, she witnessed Uganda’s independence, the [ 1966 Buganda Crisis] and the 1971 Uganda Military coup. All these events affected her personally as her husband was a politician at that time. He had served as Uganda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and then Minister of Marketing & Co-operatives till 1971, when General Idi Amin overthrew their government. After living in Entebbe for some years the family moved back to Masaka in 1971 and this has been home since then. Between 1971- to date, Dr. Babumba and Mrs Babumba family have committed themselves to the church. They have seen the construction of West Buganda Diocesan church in Kako started and have also contributed to the construction of St. John’s Church Kijjabwemi, Masaka and the Vicar’s residence.

25th year Silver Wedding anniversary, 1977.

Although this was such a memorable event to her, she was not able to celebrate the occasion with her elder children. Both her husband and she had decided to send their children for further studies abroad because of the then political instability. But still the church made the event a very memorable one and it was Late Canon Wamala who officiated at the event. That year to celebrate their Silver wedding anniversary, her husband gave her among other things, a gift of thirty heads of Boran cattle in a show of love and appreciation for her.

[ 1985-86 cival war.]

This again affected the family and especially their Ranch was destroyed. It was this time that Dr. Babumba was taken ill and Mrs. Babumba had to travel with him to [ Nairobi] and nurse him till they returned.

Loss in the family.

Dr. Babumba passed away on July 14th 1987 and this was a devastating blow to Mrs. Babumba. But as "misfortunes don’t come singly", she lost her eldest son in 1988, daughter in 1989 and daughter in law as well. In all this, she did not loose her faith in God. She continued being active in the church and kept her husband’s name alive The urge to carry on was not easy but it was with the strength she particularly got from the Church that gave her the resilience. The Church is her other family and she has kept in touch with all the elderly Church members whom she met way back in the 1970s. Unfortunately, many have passed away. Mrs. Babumba is Maama Adyerito many people. She is compassionate and generous. She is always willing to help the poor and the sick. Where ever she is her heart is always in Kijjabwemi and even when she travels abroad or is visiting her family in Kampala she always makes sure that her visits are brief so that she can come back and carry on with her church duties.

Giving thanks and praises

Mrs. Babumba is aware, that it is by the grace of God that she has managed to serve her Lord in the way she has done. With such humility she is grateful for the Lord looking after her as a widow for twenty three years. She still has the urge to get involved in church activities particularly activities of her local church St. John’s church Kijjabwemi, Masaka. She has managed to work with the different priests appointed in the parish. She has got children and grand children living abroad and acknowledges the fact that it is through the church that she gets peace because she lives on her own. She is grateful especially to her daughters who have looked after her. She is proud of her children living abroad particularly her youngest son who looks after her when she travels overseas. She is proud of her grandchildren and thanks God for their life. She was recently blessed by three great grandchildren.