Tragedy befell the family of the state minister for water, Ronald Kibuule, when his twin sons drowned in a swimming pool in Mbalala, Mukono district yesterday.
Needless to say, in this age of social media, the story travelled fast, and reaction has been swift.
A local news paper reported on Tuesday that a section of Ugandans took to social media to “bemock” the grieving minister, also Mukono North MP.
While many empathized with the minister and his wife, the news paper wrote, some used the tragedy to remind the minister about his past transgressions.
During prayers held for the family at his home, Minister Kibule expressed shock over his sons’ death and noted that the circumstances under which they died are not yet clear – with four in police custody pending investigations.
“As usual my kids came to me in the morning but since I had to go to town, I told them I was leaving,” he told the Daily Monitor.
After he had left the gate, the mother to the deceased, Ms Fortunate Kibuule called informing him that the children were crying for because they wanted to travel with him.
The next call the minister received after this was of the sudden tragedy. A postmortem report on the twins’ death found “nothing suspicious” during the examination of the bodies.
We need to support, show compassion and pray for the Minister and his family.
There is perhaps nothing more difficult for a parent to face than the death of a child – not one, but two, all at once.
“This hate we are breeding because of our differences is going to destroy us all..Imagine celebrating a loss of innocent children? When have two wrongs made a right?” Media personality Lucky Mbabazi said.
As bible believers, though there are no words that can “fix” or solve the loss of one’s child, Scripture does offer words of comfort and encouragement for Christian parents who endure the death of a child.
Comfort for parents grieving the loss of their children
David offers a positive example of a parent responding to the death of his young child.
Second Samuel 12:20 notes, “Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate.” Though David had prayed earnestly for his son’s healing, he worshiped the Lord even after his son’s death. Instead of leaving his faith or abandoning God, David drew close to God in his time of grief.
Second Samuel 12:23 records David’s answer to those who asked him about his response: “But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” David knew that he could do nothing to change the death of his child. However, he also knew that his son was now in God’s presence, a place where David would one day rejoin his son for eternity.
The Bible is clear that our grief will not last forever. Though the sadness of a lost child may extend through this life, there will be a day when this sorrow will end. Revelation 21:4promises, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Realize you are never alone. God is always present and His people are called to serve alongside you in your time of grief. Many times God will bring another person into your life who has faced a similar situation to share in your grief and help to bring comfort (2 Corinthians 1:6-7). The body of Christ is designed to join together and to serve one another through all times and situations.
God will often work through your pain to encourage and help others. Though it may not seem possible at the time, God does not allow pain without purpose. Your story and grief may one day be a source of help to others who face a similar loss.
Again, there is no perfect answer to the pain a parent faces at the death of a child. However, God can bring comfort, offers hope for eternity, and offers a family of believers who can be there to help as you endure the grief of losing a child.
