KAMPALA: According to our club records Rotarian, Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile joined our club on January 1, 1983. Before you think that is a strange date, a number of people who joined Rotary before the computerisation of records were given January 1 as their joining dates in the year they are joined. So, for 39 years Emmanuel has been a passionate Rotarian.
Past President Phenny Birungi one of our other senior members believes that Emmanuel was introduced into Rotary by the Late George Kasedde Mukasa his professional colleague.
The Rotary Club of Kampala meets every Thursday from 12:45 pm to 2:00pm2:00 pm at the Kampala Sheraton Hotel. As long as Emmanuel was in the country, he never missed fellowship and I really mean fellowship. He walked into the meeting, not as the Bank Governor he was or the PS / ST back then, he walked in as Rotarian Emmanuel who participated as required when called upon to recite the 4-Way Test or say the Grace or offer the Final Toast.
It was impossible not to notice how much he liked music especially when it came to signing the National Anthem which we do at the start of fellowship or the Club Song that is sung at the end of the fellowship. Many people visiting our club would watch in awe at the humility this giant of our country displayed when at the fellowship.
While the Rotary Club of Kampala was his club, he was a global Rotarian who never hesitated to get involved and support what other clubs were doing. That is why the pain of his passing has had an impact on Rotary in Uganda and across the East African Region.
I could fill this page with testimonies of his generosity but it would not be fair to Emmanuel who always wanted no fanfare around his person or his actions. But I will say one thing, Emmanuel taught us that humility ‘ubuntu ’ was all you need to live a fulfilling life. At work, we know he lived a fulfilling life, in his church and social circles he lived a fulfilling life, and in Rotary he lived and gave us a fulfilling life.
As we ponder on the impact his passing will have on us and the work we do, I know we are all quietly saying the words in Psalm 121 – ‘I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help? Emmanuel would no doubt respond ‘My, help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth’.
What a privilege it has been for us to share his life, his faith, his humanity, his love for humor and care for others, What a great privilege it has been.
If I had one moment with Emmanuel, I would ask him what Sir Winston Churchill once said “I am ready to meet my maker. Whether my maker is prepared for the ordeal of meeting me is another matter.”
I can hear him laughing out loud and saying indeed is my maker prepared for that ordeal.
Rest Well Emmanuel we shall soldier on as you would want us to.
Henry Rugamba
President
Rotary Club of Kampala 2021/22