It was a moment of grief and reflection as relatives and friends of departed Ibanda district tycoon Araali Eulogio Mulindwa Rusoke gathered Tuesday at Our Lady of Africa Mbuya Catholic Church to celebrate his successful life.
The deceased is a brother to tycoon Crescent Baguma who recently died in a road accident.
Mourners described the deceased as hardworking, compassionate and social.
Eulogio passed away on April 3 at the age of 72 from Nakasero Hospital where he was undergoing treatment.
According to the deceased’s eldest daughter, Clara Rusoke, his father was tested positive for Malaria in Ibanda before discovering that his Kidney as well as the liver had been affected.
Clara eulogises her dad’s last moments on earth
Situation deteriorates
It was then on advice of his doctors that he was transferred to Kampala and on reaching, he was admitted at Nakasero hospital.
“On March 31, dad was incoherent and disoriented and was straight away admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. On Friday April 1, he was then taken to the High Dependence Unit (HDU) from where he received the anointing of the sick, at this time, his lungs were also found to be collapsing,” Clara mourned.
“We were at the moment told by doctors that only prayers would save him; we prayed to God, offered him before His hands and waited for the best,” she eulogised her father as tears rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably.
The deceased’s grandchildren lay wreaths on his casket
“We as his daughters pledge to uphold our fathers last instructions which were; to embrace and love Jesus Christ, take care of the poor especially women and to be welcoming to every person.”
Clara observed that the deceased was so hospitable and has been a symbol of love to many people and provided care and shelter to many orphans.
“His joy was always to put a smile on everybody around him. We are committed to keeping this legacy alive by the grace of God.”
It was a moment of grief as mourners recalled Eulogio’s precious life
The late’s close friend, Gerald Kakuba, called upon mourners to emulate Eulogio for being peace loving.
“Eulogio has been a man of peace even to himself, let’s promote peace and take interest in serving others,” Kakuba noted.
He told mourners that Eulogio dedicated himself in serving the Catholic Church and helped to construct most of the catholic churches in Ibanda and bridged the gap between Tooro and the people of Ibanda.
Jaberi Kato reflected on Eulogio’s love for tea growing which created many jobs for the people of Ibanda and Tooro.
“Eulogio has been a board member of Mabaale Tea factory and Kyarusozi Dairy Farm where he has employed a lot of people; he has been an institution in Kijura,” Kato noted.
the deceased’s grandchildren pay their last respects to Eulogio
Araali, as he was fondly called, was known to his grand children as a loving, caring, protective and humorous man who was equally praised for his fabulous story-telling techniques.
“Araali has been our role model. He was fashionable and would love listening to music. We earlier thought he would love listening to old country music but he’s the man who loved youthful music of the likes of Sheba and Irene Ntale,” noted Zoe Nyakayiziki, the eldest grandchild.
The deceased will be laid to rest at the ancestral home in Ibanda today Thursday.
He was born on February 7, 1944 to the lates Atwooki Anatolia and Joseph Abooki Joseph Mary Rusoke of Kijjura village in Ibanda district.
Kakuba eulogising his departed comrade, Eulogio
Relatives bidding Eulogio a painful farewell