Celebrating the life of Rev. Canon Bathromew M. Zimbe
Allow me introduce you to this book “ The Celebrated Life of Rev. Canon B.M. Zimbe” [1845-1946]
Remembering the Great Men of Buganda and Uganda
This is a snapshot of “ The Life of Rev. Canon Baturumayo Musoke Zimbe, His Ministry in Uganda’s Early Church and His Role in the Buganda Kingdom from 1845-1946 where he served the great Kings of Buganda and the Kingdom. Zimbe in his lifetime lived through a generation of eight Kings and he served many of them from Kabaka Ssuuna II Ssemunywa Kalema Kansinjo Mukaabya Sekkyungwa Walugembe who reigned from 1832 to 1856 as the 29th King of Buganda till Kabaka Sir Edward Frederick William David Walugembe Mutebi Luwangula Muteesa II who reigned from Mutesa was crowned Kabaka on his 18th birthday in 1942.
In 1896, Zimbe was among the first African priests to be ordained in Buganda at Namirembe Cathedral as Reverend Baturumayo Musoke Zimbe with Rev. Jonathan Kayizi, Rev. Thomas Senfuma and Rev. Nathan Mudeka among others. He was very instrumental in the Christian evangelisation of Uganda and Buganda giving much of his land to build churches and schools.
He died on the 31st December 1946 and was buried near Namirembe Cathedral the place he loved most, the Church.
Who wrote the Biography?
The last born daughter of the Late Rev Canon Zimbe, the late A.R.N Zimbe Kiwala wrote this book to celebrate the father and she said “I have written this book basing on facts and notes of my Father, Rev. Canon Zimbe, who right from childhood to his death tirelessly served God and his kingdom. Her hope was to remember and celebrate this great Man in Buganda and Uganda as well well as inspire others to write about special events and people who created history.” Her humble appeal was that as Ugandans, we will learn to keep our history alive in books for posterity.
Today I want us to celebrate her and the inspiring story she wrote for all of us to see and witness history as it happened from the 18th century to 20th century. I was blessed to be part of this wonderful master-piece creation and writing. If we Africans don’t tell our own stories, the world will tell our stories differently and most times awkwardly.
SNAPSHOTS of the book ” “ The Celebrated Life of Rev. Canon B.M. Zimbe”
Foreword
Destiny is made by men and women who see the future. They rise to take the future and they create it’’.
Life is lived once, made a day at a time and grows through a series of events. The lives of great men remind us of such truth and touch us in ways that cannot be profoundly explained. When we see and hear of their services and sacrifices, they make us wonder whether they had the same blood as ours. But off course it’s the same, only that their lives touched people around them and their legacy lives on.
‘When a man finds his purpose, he finds his destiny’. Rev. Canon Zimbe was such a man; he lived his life by emptying himself for others. He was comfortable in the palace and had many opportunities in the kings court but he gave up everything to become a servant of Christ till the end. Zimbe served his masters faithfully.
He had two masters, God and man. For man, it was the various kings he served, for God, it was the love of the gospel he spread and the church he loved most. Rev. Canon Zimbe was not alone; he and many other early Christian converts who will forever be inscribed in our hearts because their lives reflected a deep love for others.
This book is a commemoration and reaffirming what his life was all about and the legacy he left behind. It is right that history reminds its makers to pass on their legacy to generations to come. In that way, we shall be able to thoroughly understand our future through their past deeds. As we remember Rev. Canon Zimbe’s life, lets us learn to celebrate our own unsung heroes and their great works. For some, we can sum up their lives as Paul wrote in 2 Tim 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith…”
As his child, I am now satisfied because I have fulfilled the noble duty of penning down my memories of this extraordinary life and some of his writings which he loved greatly.
Written: A.R.N Zimbe Kiwala
A New Dawn
“I have always known that I will find my destiny. That I will raise the flag of many people but I didn’t know how. I rose up one day and saw the sun beckoning me. I looked up and saw the power of the cross lighting so brightly in my dark self. I screamed loudly but no one could hear, I pushed my legs to run but they stood still. There, I found myself on my knees crying, laughing and praying, Lord help me. Then a small voice said, ‘you are my son I love you. Come to me and I will give you life everlasting’. I only knew then that I had found life and no matter what, I was to choose life.” Tribute to the early converts
The 18th century was a turning point for many African states. It was a time of increased interaction with the outside world. Many traders, explorers, missionaries and colonialist were increasingly interested in the affairs of African States. By the end of this century, many states had fallen to the interest of the foreigners.
One of the profound impacts of the time was the coming of new religions such as Catholicism, Protestantism and Islam. Many young men and women at the time willingly and gladly accepted and converted to the new religions and enjoyed the opportunities such as reading and writing that the preachers of the new religions offered to the new converts.
Buganda like many other African states witnessed this wave of the ‘new dini’. The journey of the first converts has positively impacted generations after generations. The converts travelled on a road they knew not, to a destination they came to believe as a testament of their faith. Their hearts melted for the Lord and they tirelessly prepared their destinies. My soul humbles for their trust. I believe that one day, all these lives will be celebrated and remembered for their sacrifice.
Among such people of the time was Rev. B.M Canon Zimbe. As a young page in King Muteesa 1’s palace, he witnessed the historic meeting when the Kabaka appealed for the coming of missionaries. He was blessed to learn the wisdom of Buganda Culture and the white man’s teachings. He later became a chief in the reign of Kabaka Mwanga.
Rev. Canon B. M. Zimbe was not alone; he served with many of his friends like Apollo Kivebulaya, Tomasi Ssenfuma, Yonasani Kayizzi, Yairo Mutakyala, Nuwa Kikwabanga, Samwiri Mukasa, Henry Duta Kitakule, Nasanaeri Mudeka, Henry Mukasa, Yokana Muyira, Hamu Mukasa and many others.
Like many other chiefs at the time, he resigned and became a servant of the Lord. In 1896, he was ordained a Rev. Canon at Namirembe Church where he served for 30 years. In 1946, he died at 102 years and is resting at Namirembe Church; a place he always called home.
‘The strength of a tree is derived from its roots’. Today, Uganda enjoys the liberty and freedom of worship because we have strong roots in our fathers. Some sacrificed their lives (Uganda Martyrs), others like Apollo Kivebulaya gave up their family life, and others like B. M. Zimbe gave up their careers. Whatever the cost, each person was willing to pay it. They travelled long journeys, they hoped and believed, they held so dearly to the truth they came to believe. It is wholesome clear that most early Christian’s life was based on the spirit of “Self Sacrifice” and detachment from the things of this world. Their footsteps are hard to match. They can not be replaced. The best we can do is to try and learn from their deeds.
The Chinese have a saying that “the journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.” The first converts made their step. It is our responsibility to add onto that step and as a person, I want Zimbe Memorial Foundation Church at Nakiwaate to be my step in this journey and this book to be my next step to posterity. I urge you, let us all do what we have to do in our life time and do it as if there is no tomorrow. No great man lives in vain ,…even the cockling cocks were once eggs.
Zimbe’s Early Life
“No great man lives in vain. The history of the world is but the biography of great men” Thomas Carlyle (1795 – 1881)
Bathromew M. Zimbe was born in 1845 during the reign of King Suuna II. His father’s was Lumala Mugambajolo and his mother, was Mariam Nambi. They are all departed (dead). They belonged to the Musu and Mpidi Clan respectively. Zimbe had seven brothers and sisters.
During that time, many parents prepared their children to serve the King. This was based on the principle norm “Everything belongs to the Kabaka’’. Like other parents in Buganda at the time, Zimbe’s parents trained and prepared him to serve the King. After the death of King Suuna II in April 1854, Zimbe at the age of nine was surrendered by his parents to serve as omugalagala (page) at the Kasubi, Nabulagala Palace and was immediately put in the trainees department.
By then, Kabaka Muteesa I had ascended to the throne.Kasubi Nabulagala was a training ground with a prominent trainees department called “Kigalagala’’. This department was like a university and a centre for learning about Buganda cultures and serving the King. It was also known as “The ‘rough’ and ‘tough’ and ‘ready”. It was an organised informal training through which cultural knowledge was passed from one generation to another. It prepared human resource to take care and manage the vast Kingdom of Buganda and its interests at the time.
The trainees would be taught their culture and norms, discipline, behaviour, rules and code of conduct in the palace and their role in serving the Kings among many others. While there, Zimbe was very active and did his duty with much enthusiasm and great respect.
He was alert, sharp and quick. In a short time, he was noticed for his great work and was given the responsibility of letting the King know of his visitors. If it was today, he would be called a receptionist or personal secretary. He would inform the King of the presence of his visitors. When the King was resting or attending to greater errands, he would inform the visitors to wait or come back at another opportune time. In January 1864, Zimbe’s training course ended after ten years in the palace.
Together with other six hundred trainees they graduated, ready to serve the King. He remained in the palace and was given the job to look after the young prince, Mwanga as a caretaker. He was specifically in charge of his food, hygiene, sanitation, clothing, etc.. He also taught him reading, writing, norms and traditions of Buganda. He would go with him everywhere and took him to attend the Lukiiko meetings. He carried out this responsibility with diligence and great joy.
This responsibility built Zimbe’s career. He became a close and trusted friend of Mwanga. Zimbe was vigilant, accurate and had great determination and passion to serve the King and the Kingdom. He dedicated his life to be a servant to the King which he did with great love. The bible says ‘train a child in a way he should go and he will never depart from it’, this reflected well in Zimbe’s life. His earlier trainings helped him to serve well and also impact people beyond himself.
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