It was unknown until his death that St. Lawrence schools proprietor, Prof Lawrence Mukiibi (RIP) was fathering dozens of children outside wedlock.
This revelation came as a shock to mourners during his burial last week, where press estimates put the number of those claiming to be his Children at 53.
The Catholic Church, through Msgr John-Wynand Katende who led Mukiibi’s last funeral service, has told the Observer that during his last days, the late educationist sought a priest, repented his sins and was given the sacrament of anointing of the sick.
Before someone receives this sacrament, they first get that of penance and Holy Communion, the Observer reports.
“Even in the case of St John Paul II, who led a holy life, we had to pray for him for over five years until God showed us that he had reached heaven (through a miracle.) We are not supposed to judge,” Msgr Katende told the tri-weekly newspaper.
Church under scrutiny
According to the Observer, the church is known for abstaining from conducting funeral services for people known to have had children out of wedlock. In this case, the late Mukiibi had no official wife.
Msgr Katende says if someone repents their sins, “we should leave judgment only to God.”
“The late was generous and always gave to the needy and underprivileged children in the country. He has been paying fees for the needy at his schools and helped the Church generously whenever we needed help,” Kampala Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga said, according to the Daily Monitor.
How he died
The Prof. Mukiibi was battling diabetes. One of his daughter confirmed that following a heart attack, he was rushed to Norvik hospital- on Bombo road – Kampala in critical condition where he died (28th May, 2017).
“We tried but couldn’t save his life,” she said.
male@ugchristiannews.com
