The Bishop of Rwenzori East, George Turyasingura, has urged parents to prioritise their relationships with their children, warning that a lack of parental attention can leave young people vulnerable to going astray.
Speaking at the burial of Enid Rutesiiga Nyinabarongo Adyeri, the mother of Kitagwenda District Woman MP Dorothy Nyakato Nzibonera, also an in-law of Kibale County MP Cuthbert Abigaba, Bishop Turyasingura said parents should lead by example, show their children love and make time to listen to them.
“You must strengthen your relationship with your children. Show them love, engage with them at all times, counsel and guide them,” he said.
The bishop shared a personal experience to illustrate how busy parents can unintentionally make their children feel neglected.
He recalled returning home one day to find his children already there. Instead of announcing his arrival, he quietly listened to their conversation and heard them complain that he rarely gave them attention because of his busy schedule.
“They said it hurts that they return and I don’t care about them. I don’t give them time. I only say hello because of my busy schedule and proceed to my chamber,” he said.
The conversation left him feeling guilty, he said. He then walked into the room with a smile, welcomed and hugged his children.
“They said, ‘Daddy, you have done it.’ But I never really knew I was hurting them before,” he recalled.
Bishop Turyasingura said the experience taught him that parents can easily overlook the emotional needs of their children while concentrating on work and other responsibilities.
He said the life of the late Adyeri offered an example of the kind of parenting that can leave a lasting legacy.
He described her as a woman who worked hard, loved God, educated her children and maintained strong relationships within her community.
“We are all here because of her good works. She made many good friends and taught her children the same. She loved her children and did all she did to raise them in the right path,” he said.
Adyeri died having raised educated children who, according to the bishop, continued to serve their communities and uphold the values she taught them.
Bishop Turyasingura also warned parents that neglecting their children can have consequences later in life, particularly when they become elderly and depend on their families for care.
He said those who invest in strong relationships with their children are more likely to receive care and support in their later years.
“All Adyeri’s children and her grandchildren have been caring for her, including her in-laws, because she was a nice, caring woman,” he said.
The bishop urged parents to emulate her by educating their children, loving them and teaching them Christian values.
He also challenged Christians who rarely attend church but expect religious leaders to preside over their funerals.
He said some people only attend church on major occasions such as Christmas, Easter and New Year’s Day, yet expect bishops to give them elaborate send-offs when they die.
“I would rather be at the burial of that old poor woman in the village who attends church every Sunday and is engaged in church activities, and give her a befitting burial, than those who have money and come to church three times a year,” he said.
Referring to Luke 12:35, Bishop Turyasingura urged Christians to remain spiritually vigilant and avoid behaviour that could undermine their lives and families.
He criticised alcoholism and adultery, saying such behaviour was damaging families and weakening the moral values of some people.
He said the late Adyeri’s life demonstrated the value of hard work, good parenting, education and faith.
“Let’s all borrow a leaf from Adyeri as we lay her to rest. Because of her works, we are sure we shall meet her again,” he said.
Adyeri was the first Mother’s Union chairperson at St John Kantozi Church of Uganda. She also donated the first iron sheets used to roof the church and, at the time of her death, had begun laying the foundation for a parish priest’s house.
Her grandchildren remembered her as a loving and caring grandmother who treated them as her own children.
Sarah, speaking on behalf of the grandchildren, said they would particularly miss her guidance and counsel.
“She was loving and cared for all of us as her own children. We are really going to miss her. We shall miss her counsel,” she said.
Her daughter, MP Nyakato, said her mother had sacrificed greatly to give her children a good education after becoming a single mother following the death of her husband.
“She always guided and counselled us not to mess up our lives. She always asked us to stay disciplined, focus on our education and not to shame her,” she said.
Nyakato said her mother also introduced the children to church from an early age, taking them to Sunday School before they later joined the choir and Mother’s Union.
Another daughter, Doreen Nyangoma Abigaba said their mother taught them humility, patience and the importance of prayer during difficult times.
“She always advised us to pray during challenges. We really admired her character,” she said.
Thousands of mourners, including local leaders, clergy and government officials, attended Adyeri’s burial in Ruhiga Cell, Kabujogera Town Council, Kitagwenda District. Among those present was Deputy Attorney General Jackson Kafuzi.
For those who knew her, the farewell was not only a mourning of her death but also a reflection on the values she passed to her children and grandchildren, a legacy Bishop Turyasingura urged other families to emulate.
