{UAH} Celebrating the life of a departed brother Peter Timothy W. Kalemba 1956-2014

Peter Kalemba was known to as many people as those who didn't know him. The Ugandan community in Boston (read New England) has  exploded in numbers of Ugandans both from Uganda and other states.

The Kalembas are among the first Ugandans (of our times), to settle in New England. Moses Kalemba and his Dear wife Theo Kalemba are one couple I know that will make every effort to attend a Lumbe almost everywhere in New England and other parts of USA. It was therefore no surprise that Peter Kalemba's body viewing, funeral service and funeral reception were all attended by Ugandans and friends of Uganda, in droves! The church service at the funeral home was filled to capacity (both downstairs and upstairs) and many people were left standing! I was lucky to get a seat that had been "reserved" for someone else! 

Mourners came from New York, New Jersey, California, Texas, Minnesota, Seattle, DC, Maryland and I'm sure other parts of the United States.

One unusual absence at this gathering was the use of the "F" word! Time and again at many of our Boston Lumbes, we spend days, sometimes weeks, Raising funds to help send our friends and familys' remains to their ancestral burial grounds in Uganda! This was not the case with our brother Peter; and the reason was the fact that the Kalemba's took advantage of the Ggwanga Mujje Life insurance that many have shunned! I was on the Ggwanga Mujje executive when this insurance was introduced to our community. Getting people to register for it was harder than pulling teeth. The reasons are various but I won't go into them at this time. 

Moses Kalemba, Kato Kajubi and the Rev. Alex Kasirye Musoke took time to call upon mourner to please join this affordable insurance. Together with the order of service was a sheet with information about this Life insurance. Rev. Kasirye went as far as saying that if you lo someone, please buy him/her this or any other life insurance so as to eliminate some stress that comes with loss of a loved one!

At the service which was conducted by Rev. Alex Kasirye Musoke of St. Peter's Church Belmont Massachusetts. Bible Readings were by Nakimera Kajubi and Mrs Mildred Mukasa. The family speech was given by Omulongo Kato Kajubi, who happens to be the late Peter Kalemba's schoolmate in Budo Kings College, Uganda. The English version of the speech was read by Nalongo Brenda Kiberu-Kalema of Minnesota and a close relative of the Kalemba's.

Mourners were treated to a pictorial of Peter Kalemba's with family and friends.

At the end of the beautiful service, it was almost impossible to get out ones car if you had parked at the funeral home's parking lot!

It was like a meet and greet outside the funeral home and Mourners headed out to Crowne Plaza hotel in Woburn where a sumptuous dinner was waiting.

We continued to celebrate Peter Kalemba's life at the hotel ball room and later on proceeded to one of the hotel's Bar and later to our rooms where we continued to celebrate our departed brother's life till the wee hours of the morning!

Anne Grace N Kiyimba