KENYA: CUEA Condoles with Church in Tanzania After Demise of University’s First Vice Chancellor
First Vice Chancellor of CUEA Monsignor Deogratius Hukumu Mbiku
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), an institute founded by the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) is mourning the first Vice Chancellor of the University Monsignor Dr. Deogratius Hukumu Mbiku who died on Easter Sunday, April 4, while undergoing treatment at Cardinal Rugambwa Hospital in Dar-es-Salam, Tanzania.
Addressing Archbishop Jude Thadaeus Ruwa’ichi of Dar-es-Salam Archdiocese where the late Msgr. Mbiku hails from, the current Vice Chancellor of CUEA Very Rev. Stephen Mbugua Ngari said, “On behalf of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), I would like to convey our deepest condolences on Msgr. Mbiku’s passing to your Grace, to the family of Monsignor, and to the Archdiocese of Dar-es- Salam.”
Fr. Mbugua disclosed that the University received charter during the reign of Msgr. Mbiku.
“In the year Msgr. Mbiku took office, the Government of Kenya awarded a University Charter to CUEA (hence) Msgr. Mbiku will always remain an important part of our history,” Fr. Mbugua who has been at the helm of the University since October 2018 disclosed in a statement dated Thursday, April 8, adding that the late Msgr. served as the third Rector/Vice Chancellor from 1992 to 1996.
Meanwhile addressing the congregants during homily at the funeral Mass that was presided over by Archbishop Ruwa’ichi of Dar-es-Salam on Thursday, April 8, the Chairman of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) Archbishop Gervas Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga eulogized the late cleric as a man who loved the scriptures and lived the Word of God.
“Msgr. Mbiku loved Sacred Scriptures. He read the Bible, quoted it and his life was a reflection of the wisdom he was drawing from the scriptures,” Archbishop Nyaisonga of Mbeya Archdiocese narrated.
He explained further that the Christians he served believe that all his goodness and success was based on how he meditated on God’s Word, how he understood it and lived it… and that from the scriptures he gained strength, confidence and acceptance among the people of God.
The Prelate acknowledged that Msgr. Mbiku’s love for Sacred Scripture was a fountain that gave him confiedence in “all the work he performed and in his faith.”
Msgr. Mbiku who before his death was the parish priest and chaplain of University of Dar-as-Salam was buried in Pugu, Tanzania.
