Tigwezire, Petero and Miriya Mutakyanga

[TORO, Clan: [illegible]]

Petero Tigwezire was born about 1875 during the reign of Kyaika when Kabarega was Mukama of Bunyoro.[1] His father was Katorogo and his grandfather Kabwa. Kabwa’s original home was at Misenyi in Mwenge and he had come to Toro with Prince Kaboyo when the latter rebelled against his father. He was made a chief at Bulyambuzi, and Tigwezire was born there. His father’s title was Sekibobo Omuhukya and this was a hereditary chieftaincy.[2] Tigwezire succeeded to this chieftaincy at the age of fourteen. He was baptized by Callis in the Mpanga River, and soon afterwards was made saza chief of Bwamba with the title of Kasuju.[3] He also worked as a church teacher and built churches in Bwamba. In 1896 he was elected to the Kabarole Church Council, and in the same year married Miriya Mutakyanga.[4] She had been one of Kasagama’s wives, and was baptized on May 8, 1896.[5] She received her letter as a church teacher in 1902 and taught for four years.[6] In 1901 Petero was confined to his Bwamba chieftaincy, and the same year accompanied Kasagama on a visit to Bunyoro.[7] Later he served as a saza chief in Kabale and then in Mwenge. He would like to have been ordained, but was rejected because he would not entirely give up drink.[8] He was one of the leading Christians in Toro and was well-known for his kindness in looking after widows and orphans. He died on December 31, 1918.

Louise Pirouet

Notes(short form; see List of Sources for complete citations):

1. Except where otherwise stated, this is based on an account given me by his granddaughter, E.M. Mukidi, in a letter of September, 1967.

2. This is a Luganda title, and may not have been the original title of the chieftaincy.

3. Kabarole Baptism Register.

4. Kabarole Church Council Minutes

5. Kabarole Baptism Register.

6. Toro Women Teachers Register.

7. Lloyd in C.M.I. September 1901, p. 713.

8. Balya, 1966.

This biography, written by Louise Pirouet, was included in “Appendix A: Biographical Notes,” on pages 422-3 of “The Expansion of the Church of Uganda (N.A.C.) from Buganda into Northern and Western Uganda between 1891 and 1914, with Special Reference to the work of African Teachers and Evangelists” (PhD Thesis: University of East Africa, 1968). Pirouet published this thesis as Black Evangelists (London: Rex Collings, 1978). However, Black Evangelists does not reproduce the detailed biographies, complete with references to sources, found in Appendix A of the thesis. Print copies are available at Africana Section, Makerere University Library (U 02 P57); The Centre for Christianity Worldwide, Cambridge; and a microfilm copy at the School of Oriental Studies, London. [information from Angus Crichton]