Ankole Loses a Mother Canon Verina Rujoki: Teacher, Preacher, Entrepreneur and Culturalist.

By Musa Rwamigoye 

With deep sorrow and total submission to God’s will, on Monday morning, Ankole received sad news of the passing of a historical mother, grandmother and heroine Canon Verina Rujoki, popularly known as Mukuru.

 

First and foremost, Ankole has lost a library and the Church has lost a mother. The East African Revival has lost a true member and the teaching profession has lost a matriarch. Furthermore, the young generation has lost a joyful grandmother and NRM Government has lost a true historical, cadre and mobilizer. In fact, the death of Canon Verina Rujoki is not just the death of a woman, it is merely the closing of a library to researchers. 

Personally, she was many things in one body, and to understand her is to understand the history of Ankole in the last 70 years.

 

It may be difficult to understand Canon Verina Rujoki but let us see her in episodes.

 

1.A True MUROKORE of the East African Revival Movement. Canon Verina belonged to that rare generation of Abarokore saved not by words but by light. Her salvation was not Sunday salvation, it was daily repentance, humility, forgiveness, and open confession (okweteisa/Okwatura).

 

At a time when the Gospel is mixed with business, she kept the original fire of the East African Revival burning in Ankole ; the fire of holiness, prayer, and a straight walk with God.

 

2. A Primary Teacher and Mother of Generations (The Primary Teacher, The Nation Builder). Before many of today’s leaders knew how to write their names, Canon Verina was in class with chalk, shaping them. As a primary teacher, she built the foundation of education in Ankole with discipline and love. Many who are doctors, priests, teachers and leaders today passed through hands of people like Tr. Verina. She did not just teach A,B,C,D,E,FG, she taught Obuntu, respect, and fear of God. Her classroom was beyond the blackboard but a home where she mothered the motherless.

She believed that if you spoil a child in Primary One, you spoil the nation. Her cane corrected, but her love built.

 

3. A Reverend’s Wife and Grandmother of Faith.

As a Canon’s wife, she understood the meaning of marrying a servant God. She stood behind the pulpit by standing behind her husband. She hosted priests, she fed evangelists, she prayed for the church when it was weak, she covered her family with prayer. She proved that behind a strong Reverend, there is a stronger praying wife. To many people, she was not just a grandmother by age, but a grandmother by wisdom. She became a mothers’ union leader who counselled, corrected and blessed.

In fact, her marriage to an Anglican Priest defined her second calling. She was not just a Reverend’s wife but a partner in ministry.

 

4. A Cultural Lady and Advocate for Obugabe bwa Ankole, Canon Verina was one of the brave women of Ankole who stood firm when it was not fashionable to speak about the restoration of Obugabe bwa Ankole. Together with fellow heroines like Chairperson Gertrude Kabwasingo Byanyima and other elders that loved to see a King in their palace Mugaba, she advocated for the restoration and respect of Obugabe bwa Ankole not as politics but as identity. Courageously, she moved from meeting to meeting arguing that Ankole without Omugabe is a body without a head.

 

She believed Ankole without its culture is like a body without a soul. She taught that Omugabe is not just a man, but an institution of unity, discipline, and moral guidance. In her quiet but firm voice, she reminded young women that modernity should not kill our culture . She lived Ankole culture in her dress, language, conduct and home.

For her, Obugabe was not politics but identity, unity and moral compass. She used to say, “A culture that forgets its King forgets its children.” She believed the Kingdom would restore discipline, protect culture, and unite Banyankore.

Her dream of seeing the throne restored while alive may not have been fully realized, but she planted a seed no wind will uproot.

In my research work across Ankole on Culture, Religion and Leadership, I have not met many personalities who embodied all three like Canon Verina Rujoki. She was a perfect intersection of Culture in her dress, Religion in her heart, and Leadership in her home.

 

5. Leadership and mentoreship. In politics, she was a known and respected NRM Cadre and mobilizer from the bush war times until she lost energy to move from her home. She was known of not being an abusive politician and regular cadre who believed in stability and peace. She mobilized women to support the movement not with insults, but with routinely counsel.

As a women Leader, she mentored young women leaders Ankole and in Bene Rukaari clan. As a Girl Child Champion, she was vocal in an era when many parents educated only boys, she insisted: “Omwana w’Omwishiki ashemeraire kushomesibwa.” She fought early marriages, she fought for girls to stay in school indoor to have a bright future, and she counselled many girls to become teachers, engineers, lawyers, priests and nurses.

Canon Verina Rujoki is a Woman Who Refused to Let Girls Stay Behind in Ankole. Gender equality for her was not a conference in a hotel but a daily fight in the village.

When Canon Verina Rujoki became a leader, leadership in Ankole was a man’s world. LCs were men, priests were men, business owners were men and many women never owned anything at home. Women were expected to clap, cook and certify their husbands. Frankly on her two legs, he refused.

 

To Mzee Rujoki and the entire family, to the Diocese of Ankole, to all Abarokore of East Africa Revival Movement, to all teachers she mentored, to all Banyankore who cherish Obugabe, and North Ankole Diocese I extend my deepest condolences.

We mourn, but we also celebrate a life she lived. A life that taught, prayed, cultured and mothered a nation.

Rest in perfect peace, Canon Verina Rujoki. You have fought a good fight, you have kept the faith, and you have preserved our heritage.

 

 

CANON VERINA’s BIOGRAPHY.

Born of Bene Rukaari, Married into Abaitira. Canon Verina was born into the great clan of Bene Rukaari, a clan known for its wisdom, hard work and strong women. She later was married into the respected clan of Abaitira, where she became the definition of an ideal Amunyankore wife full of faithful, hardworking, hospitable and a builder. 

She never forgot where she came from, and she honoured where she went. Above all, In her both clans found pride.

 

Canon Verina Rujoki was born iinNyabwihikye –Ibanda in 1930. His parents were Late Yosamu Kafuniza and Evelyne Kobuhire. They were born seven children, whereby 3 were boy and 4 girls. One of her prominent brother was former UNLF historical and presidential advisor, Late Emmanuel Kafuniza.

 

 EDUCATION CAREER .

Verina Rujoki passed through Kazo Primary School and Bweranyangi primary school before joining Bishop Stuart Kakoba, Mbarara for a 4 year Primary Teacher Certificate. 

While studying at kazo primary school, Verina schooled coming from Late Edward Kakudidi, a revivalist and founder of St John Kazo Church of Uganda in 1930.

 

TEACHING CAREER.

Upon graduating from Bishop Stuart Kakoba, Tr. Verina taught at Bweranyangi junior, Nyabwihikye, Kibubura (Ibanda Integrated) and Rushere Primary school where she retired from.

Records shows that Tr. Verina was a professional teacher with all qualities. It is said that Tr. Verina had a motherly vision whereby she wanted clever pupils in her class with clean heart, clean in hands and clean in language.

FAMILY. 

In 1969, Tr. Verina Rujoki married her husband Late Rev. Canon Rujoki John. In there earthly life, they bored children and among them are; URA Commissioner General, Mr. Musinguzi John Rujoki, Hon. Ruth Mushabe Ruth Rujoki, Mr. Musherure James a.k.a Musheks, Barigye Celia Rujoki and Sheeba Kusasira Rujoki.

Canon Verina Rujoki lived a complete life: She taught with chalk, She preached with prayer, She farmed with her hands, She built business with wisdom, She led women with love, She defended her monarchy with courage, She supported her NRM party with loyalty and She championed girls with passion. What more can a woman do in one lifetime?

As a researcher of culture, religion and leadership, I can say without fear of contradiction, in Canon Verina, culture, religion and leadership met perfectly.

Lastly, Canon Verina Rujoki a strong Christian believer and a Bible reader. Her personal verse was Yobu 28:28 “ Akagira omuntu ati: Reeba, okutiina MUKAMA nibwo bwengye, N’okutaana n’ekibi nikwo kwetegyereza. English version:And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understang.”