Celebrating the Life of Emmanuel Kaganda 12 April 1933 - 17 October 1988

Days, months, years have passed. It is now 23 years since the Good Lord called you home. We vividly recall that gloomy Monday, just before midnight, when we received the sad news of your departure. It is often said that, "time is the best healer", but for us it has taken an awful long time. The agony felt then is luminously traceable in our minds to this very day.

Unlike then, today is not a day of mourning, but of celebrating the great moments of your life on earth. It is not a day of compunction, but of thanking God for delivering his promise of being "a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows..." Pslams 68:5.

Like a candle exposed to a storm, you burned out way to fast. Despite your early departure, you left an everlasting mark on us. We honour and treasure your impeccable service to your fellow Tanzanians. Likewise, we value and cherish your guidance and support rendered to friends, family and strangers. Your love and care for others, putting their interests first before yours is an enduring treasure, worthy of emulating.

Like soldiers who oblige to instructions of their fallen commander, we continue to be guided by your wise counsel. You would have been proud of many achievements registered by your sons and daughters, especially on education, an area that you gave the utmost priority. And you would have been touched by their dedication and service to their fellow Tanzanians, albeit in a modest way.  It is truly a great honour to follow your footsteps.

23 years is a long time. We thank God for keeping us safe and prosperous. Our lives are abundantly blessed. Had you been here today, you would have had fourteen instead of seven children. Where there were none, today you would have had fifteen grandchildren. The Lord has truly looked on us with favor and made us fruitful. Indeed, he has increased our numbers as promised in Leviticus 26:9.

You will always reside in our hearts and minds. It was a privilege to have spent some quality time with you. At home you were both a great dad and a mentor. God had blessed you with a beautiful mind that we are extremely boastful about. At work, you were an inspiration to those around you, a pillar to lean on and a reliable troubleshooter. On their behalf, we say thank you.

We are truly grateful for the gift of prayer. Through prayers, we have witnessed the Lord's hands doing marvelous deeds in our lives. Tears of joy have often rolled down our cheeks as we sang your favorite hymn of appreciation:

"Mungu amenihurumia. Tendo hili kubwa sana. Sikustahili jambo hili.  Nimelipata bure tu.  Sasa najua haya yote, nasifu huruma yake..."

It is amazing how these words bring to life images of those great moments we shared together. Gladly, these have not ceased. Indeed, generations to come will recite them in praising and thanking the Lord for the many blessings he continue to shower upon us.

We miss you dearly. Mama misses you more. She remains tough and enduring; kind and loving. She is the best gift in our lives; a star that always glitters. We adore and are extremely proud of her. We are sure you are too.

Dear Dad, we are longing to be re-united with you in heaven, cognizant of the promise of eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Until then, we pray that your soul may continue to rest in eternal peace. Amen.