By Franko Olong
“I have found peace here,” said the bald-headed Rev Dismas Eddie Bwesigye. Next to him was his supportive wife adorned in royal purple, the gap in her teeth accentuating her beauty. Their two children stood by their side, one on either side.
As the setting sun went to rest, the retiring Reverend narrated his fresh memories of his work at Butabika Mental Hospital.
During the farewell party for Rev Bwesigye on Saturday, staff at Uganda’s largest hospital were left pleading on their knees on Saturday. It looked like a guy pleading to his girlfriend not to leave him after more than a decade of a relationship.
Rev Bwesigye has served both the patients and the hospital staff. After more than a decade of his devoted and selfless service, the servant of God has retired. Rev Bwesigye has also been the chaplain of St Luke Chapel Butabika.
The farewell party was organised by the hospital alongside Action for Child Trauma International (ACT International), a UK based-organization, Red Chilli and Friends of Butabika. Those present included a team from the UK, the ACT International representative, the Principal of the Butabika Nursing Schools, Deputy Principal of the Butabika Psychiatric School, the Rotary club of Butabika, and some local leaders.
He has been at the heart and forefront of several innovative care for the patients, for both their spiritual and psychological needs. He pioneered the gardening project in wards, established a library at the Alcohol and Drug Unit, donated sports materials, cooking materials, mukene (silverfish), eggs and matooke.
He also donated clothes, sanitary towels, blankets, bananas, and delivered cake to all the patients every Christmas season. Most of his work has been weekly for the past decade.
He is a celebrity among the patients and the staff. He has also played a key role in linking the hospital and the outside world, both nationally and internationally. He coordinated in several organizations and individuals like churches, rotary clubs, and NGOs, among others.
“The hospital has been my family and been so good to me,” he said holding back his tears, “you have trusted me with not only individuals but also permitted me access all persons and places not easily accessed.”
He also said that his journey with the patients in the hospital has been one of the most difficult and sweet journeys he has had to take.
“This has been the most lovely and difficult places in my life: a place the staff love the patients and the patients love the staff. I have found peace here,” he noted.
Bwesigye promised not to leave the hospital.
“I will not leave completely. If there ever be a call for the friends or ambassadors of Butabika my whole family and I are a part of it. I will be with you,” he pledged.
Rev. Bwesigye thanked his family that was present with him for affording him the opportunity to serve this community of people in the hospital.
He continued: “I couldn’t have done anything much without my wife. She has fully supported me and all I have done has been because of her money.”
The Butabika staff, captained by the hospital executive director, couldn’t hold back their emotions toward the retiring reverend who has different names among the hospital community. These include: reverend, mentor, father, disciplinarian, therapist, teacher and guide.
“I had to be here because I had to be here,” Dr. Juliet Nakku, the executive director said, “your kind of work is to be envied. You brought a special form of care for our patients. A form that blended between the spiritual and professional care of patients in a unique setting as Butabika.”
She also praised Rev Bwesigye for bringing a lot of value to the patients, who she was certain would greatly miss him.
Dr Nakku called upon the reverend not to leave the hospital because his services are still much needed.
“I hope this is not the end of your engagement with the hospital but the inaugural function of your next engagement with us. We won’t say goodbye,” she said.
Meanwhile, SoHope Foundation and its partners recently left inpatients at the Butabika Mental Health in tears of joy after donating sanitary towels and pants. (See Details Here).
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