The late Rt. Rev. George William Tibesigwa, the Bishop Emeritus of Ankole diocese was Saturday 12 August 2023 laid to rest at St. James Cathedral Ruharo in Mbarara City. The Bishop passed away at Mayanja memorial hospital in Mbarara City on 9 August 2023.
In his sermon, His Grace Steven Kazimba Mugalu, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda who was the Main Celebrant at the funeral service to send off the Late Rt Rev George Tibesigwa, emphasized the need for a good ending in life, and how one can achieve it by fixing their eyes on Christ, by having a personal relationship with Him.
Archbishop Kazimba Mugalu said that the late Tibesigwa was a wise counsel on conflict resolution and a very good teacher who taught him theology at Bishop Tucker Theological college in Mukono district.
The Archbishop was assisted by Bishop Sheldon Mwesigwa of Ankole Diocese, and both the current and retired bishops and clergy.
Chris Rwakasiisi, the Senior presidential advisor on Special Duties who represented the chief mourner, Milly Babalanda the Minister for Presidency, said that the country lost a great hardworking religious leader who used his position to rally the public to embrace peace, unity and development, who will be remembered for his humility.
Babalanda described the late Tibesigwa as a great citizen and a true servant of God .
Maama Efrance Tibesigwa, the wife of the late prelate said he will be remembered for his simplicity, humility, time management and friendliness.
About the Deceased.
Born on 17th July 1945 in Ntungamo district, the late Tibesigwa accepted Jesus as personal savior in 1957. Got married to Efrance Mirembe on December,31,1977.
He is survived by a widow and five children.
Tibesigwa died mid this week while undergoing treatment at Mayanja Memorial hospital where he had been admitted.
Tibesigwa served as the 4th bishop of the Ankole diocese from 2007 until July 2010. He succeeded retired bishop Elisha Kyamugambi and went on serve for only three years.
At the time of his election, Tibesigwa was serving as the principal of Barham University College in Kabale. Tibesigwa was the first principal to be appointed to Bishop Barhum University, a Kabale-based constituent college of Uganda Christian University.
His election came to some as a surprise after the House of Bishops had rejected Dr Rev Wilberforce Kamukama and his brother Rev Dr Grace Karamura who had been nominated to replace Bishop Elisha Kyamugambi.
By the time of his death, Dr Tibesigwa was the coordinator of the North Ankole Diocese University Project. He was the advisor on community welfare and development issues, a senior presidential advisor on southwestern Uganda; chairman of the boards of the Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development (HEPS-Uganda) a non-governmental organization (NGO) that promotes the health and socioeconomic rights, Eliphaz Laki Memorial Foundation; East Africa TEE and COU Provincial Building Committee and Chancellor Bishop Stuart University.
He held a Doctor of Theological Studies and Mission/United University of ASIA, Master of Divinity University College of Emmanuel and St. Chad, a bachelor of Arts (Sociology and Psychology) from the University of Saskatchewan, a Bachelor of Theology.
