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THE RT REVD EUSTACE RUHINDI

02 November 2006


Margaret Court writes:

THE Rt Revd Yustasi (Eustace) Ruhindi, who died on 28 February, aged 80, was born of humble origins in the Rukungiri district of Uganda. He made the most of his education, and finally received a DD from Berkeley Divinity School in the US.

This training fitted him to become a lecturer, and subsequently Principal of Mukono Theological College, on the outskirts of Kampala. The college welcomed students not only from Uganda, but also from Sudan, Rwanda, and Burundi.

Bishop Eustace was one of the first Ugandan-born bishops in the Church of Uganda. He became Bishop of Bunyoro-Kitara in 1972, and was later translated to North Kigezi, his home area. He retired in 1995, but many saw him as a father-figure, and he continued to exercise a ministry of prayer and counsel.

Bishop Eustace witnessed the independence of his country. He also lived through the Idi Amin era, and, after the death of Archbishop Janani Luwum, served, with distinction and wisdom, through a difficult time as the Dean of the Province of the Church of Uganda.

He also enjoyed an international ministry. He came to Britain with the late Bishop Festo Kivengere on a preaching tour, kept up his contacts in America, and sat on the Board of Africa Evangelistic Enterprise. He was closely associated with the East African Revival, and was instrumental in forming Uganda Keswick to promote biblical teaching.

In his diocesan ministry, besides being a diligent preacher and teacher of scripture, he made efforts to promote community development, income-generating projects, and education. Bishop Eustace was a scholarly man of faith, always ready to "press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of him". Ugandan Christians and, indeed, his friends around the world are united in giving thanks for his life, witness and ministry.

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