The Late John Talikwa
A
BIG THANK YOU TO ALL WHO WERE THERE TO WITNESS THE LAST JOURNEY OF UNCLE JOHN
TALIKWA.
On
behalf of the grand children of Lazalo Ssebayizzi, I wish to express our
gratitude to all who helped us during the long time when Talikwa was sick and
through to the burial after he passed on. We are most grateful. The people of
Kajjansi showed us their love when they said no to the taking of the body for a
night virgil to Gayaza Village as had been our plan. They said that for a man
who had stayed for over 50 years in Kajjansi, they wanted to see his body at
his official residence for the night.
Uncle
John Talikwa had been bed ridden for more than a year. Before he got bed
ridden, he had fallen down. He wanted support of the door, unfortunately, he
missed it and feel down. He was initially treated for wounds, but later it was
found that he had fractured his limb. The treatment took a long time and it
ended at CoRSU (Kisubi). Given the advanced age, by the time he got operated
on, he was really a weak person. So, from then on, he remained bed ridden up to
the time of his death.
Prior
to his death, he had developed bed sores and had been attended to by Mwesigwa
Clinic. It was however decided that he be taken to Lubaga hospital for
additional treatment. He was discharged on Wednesday and he died in the morning
hours of Thursday.
I
first got in touch with uncle John in 1970 when I was a primary child at
Kitende Church of Uganda Primary School where I was for one year (1970). A
gentleman by the name of Besuel Lutakome could bring us in his car up to Kajjansi
and we could move straight to uncle John's residence where we could have an
additional breakfast before going to school. When I joined St. Mary's College
Kisubi, I used to call on uncle John, and in fact in 1979, when SMACK closed
due to the war, I decided to go to uncle John's place until the war ended.
After
my graduation, uncle John saw in me potential to help development efforts of
the area. He told me that Ssisa Church of Uganda wanted to acquire Parish
status, and he requested for my write up to back the initiative which I did. He
also approached me about being a founder headmaster of Kitende Secondary
School. Unfortunately, by that time, I had been requested by parents from
Namutamba (Mityana district) to help them revive Namutamba Secondary School,
so, I did not help the Kitende project.
Uncle
John had all the time wanted us to identify with our clan. It was not unusual
for him to ask you if you knew a certain relative, and on many occasions he was
sorry that some of us were very green about clan business.
Uncle
John Talikwa had a very big shop in Kajjansi and he also used to sell Petrol.
At least by 1970 the concrete structure on which the Petrol pump used to sit
was clearly visible in front of the shop premises.
The
images below:
1. Portrait of uncle John Talikwa
2. Uncle John with grand children
3. Uncle John Talikwa in a group photo after a Thanksgiving service at Kitende
Parish Church following my graduation (Kiwanuka Kituuka William) and my brother Isaac Kambagira RIP from
Makerere in 1984.
4. Talikwa's sister Mrs. (Canon) Sesanga - Norah Ngadire Ssesanga.
5. Talikwa's remaining brothers: Mr. Kalugye (on the left).
& Mr. Lutwama
Paul Lwanga - the eldest in the family of John Talikwa is seen on the right with Canon Ssesanga.
7. Talikwa's coffin before the Funeral Service at Ssisa.
8. John Talikwa's last resting place at Ssisa Gayaza Village.
THE FUNERAL SERVICE, SERVING OF FOOD TO MOURNERS
AND EVENTUAL BURIAL OF GRAND FATHER JOHN TALIKWA
AT SSISA
Ven. Kisawuzi giving the sermon
