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Pastor Bagenda’s death: Houston mourns, celebrates but $7000 shy of shipping body

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The late Pastor Charles Bagenda

 

By EADM Correspondent

In Summary: His death has dealt a heavy blow to the Ugandan community in Houston and global faithfuls. But as they mourn, celebrate his life, and pay their respects, they are still shy of $7000 to repatriate the remains of the fallen man of God to Uganda for burial. Pastor Charles Bagenda returned from a church minister’s conference in Uganda and was hospitalized after 6 days. But his condition worsened and died on Saturday February 24 at the West Houston Medical Center. The family awaits a post-mortem report to ascertain the cause of his tragic death. A fundraising drive is still underway to cover a $7000 budget deficit for the outstanding funeral expenses including the travel of his 3 children and an adult to attend the burial in Uganda. Pastor Bagenda, 53, is survived by a widow, 3 young children aged 16, 14, and 10. He will be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Bulyansiime village, Iganga district, Uganda. “His lord said to him, well done, good and faithful servant…. enter into the joy of your lord.” (Matthew 25:23). RIP, Pastor Charles Bagenda, the selfless servant of God and His people!  

 

The late Pastor Charles Bagenda

 

Houston, Texas—Houston is morning and celebrating at the same time. This follows the tragic death of Pastor Charles Bagenda, a spiritual leader and an irreplaceable pillar of the community.  His death has dealt a heavy blow to the Ugandan community in Houston and to the global faithful. But as they mourn, celebrate his life, and pay their respects, they are still shy of $7000 to repatriate the remains of the fallen man of God to Uganda for burial. Pastor Charles Bagenda returned from a church minister’s conference in Uganda and was hospitalized after 6 days. But his condition worsened and died on Saturday February 24 at the West Houston Medical Center. The family awaits a post-mortem report to ascertain the cause of his tragic death. Pastor Bagenda, 53, is survived by a widow, Betty Bagenda, 3 young children; Aaron, 16, Anne, 14, and Amazing, 10, and his mother, Mrs. Bagenda. He will be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Bulyansiime village, Iganga district, Uganda.  “His lord said to him, well done, good and faithful servant…. enter into the joy of your lord.” (Matthew 25:23).

 

Members of late Pastor Charles Bagenda’s family (l-r) the son Aaron, one of the daughters, a family friend and daughter of Mr. Muwonge (middle), another daughter, and the wife, Betty Bagenda extreme right.

 

While the community and the faithful are mourning, celebrating his life, and paying their last respects, they are still shy of $7000 to repatriate the remains of the fallen man of God to Uganda for burial. The deficit notwithstanding, the funeral organizing committee expressed gratitude and appreciation to all those who have thus far contributed money, time, and other items towards a dignified send off the late Pastor Bagenda so much deserved.   But a fundraising drive is still underway to cover the $7000 budget deficit for the outstanding funeral expenses including the travel of his 3 children and an adult to attend the burial in Uganda, the funeral organizing committee announced during the wake last Saturday.

 

Mr. Joseph Muwonge, the President of the Ugandan Community in Houston, Texas, USA

 

On behalf of the funeral organizing committee, the president of the Uganda community in Houston Mr. Joseph Muwonge once again appealed to all people of goodwill to contribute towards the outstanding funeral expenses. He again provided the banking information as follows:  He advised those wishing to use PayPal, go to:

https://www.paypal.me/houstonugandancomm

For those who wish to make a deposit in a bank, they are advised to go to the First Community Credit Union, account number: 3432020-2. The Routing # is: 313084674. For those wishing to use Cash app, they are advised to call 8016233637.

To make a deposit through the GoFundMe page, donors are advised to go to:

https://www.gofundme.com/PastorCharlesBagenda

 

Pastor John Baker Katende of the Global Evangelical Church in Boston, Massachusetts.

Meanwhile, viewing the remains of the fallen man of God and the memorial service were held on Saturday March 3, 2018. The viewing took place from 12 noon-to 2:00 PM at the Carl Barnes Funeral Home located at 746 W 22nd St. Houston, TX 77008. Immediately after, a Memorial service for the soul of the late Pastor Bagenda was held from 2:00-4:00PM at the same venue. The sermon at the service was delivered by Rev. Pastor John Baker Katende of Global Evangelical Church in Boston, Massachusetts. In his homily, he advised mourners to turn their lives to God as they await the inevitability of death and in preparation for the gift of eternal life.  “Death is part of our lives and inescapable,” Rev. JB Katende said, adding, “Be prepared, surrender your lives to Jesus, and do not let death take you unawares.” Secondly, “do not ask why death happens because we are all God’s creations and through death, we return where we came from,” he said with a degree of conclusiveness. Pastor Samuel Walton, who was the Master of Ceremony at the memorial service briefly, highlighted events in the life of the fallen Pastor Bagenda. The Houston Praise Community Church choir led and performed praise songs and worship hymns.

 

Following the memorial service, a wake was held at the residence of the late Pastor Bagenda located at 15406 La Loma Dr. Houston TX 77083. During the wake, a fundraising drive was conducted and additional funds were raised. However, a deficit of about $7000 is still outstanding to cover the remaining funeral expenses. “All people of goodwill are requested to donate to this humanitarian cause to send the body of our beloved pastor, friend, father, and brother to his final resting place in Uganda,” Mr. Joseph Muwonge, president of the Ugandan community in Houston appealed. He also told mourners that as the repatriation of the body awaits accompanying documents from the Ugandan Embassy in Washington DC., the funeral organizing committee will simultaneously continue with the fundraising drive. Meanwhile, in Uganda, A-Plus Funeral Management will conduct all the funeral-related activities from the time the body arrives to the burial.

 

The late Pastor Charles Bagenda

     

While addressing mourners at the funeral service and at the wake, the president of the Uganda community in Houston Mr. Joseph Muwonge said since the late Charles Bagenda arrived in Houston, USA in 1995, he became an instrumental figure in bringing together and nurturing the Houston-Uganda Community. “Since he was around during its inception in 1995, he immediately became both a leader and part and parcel of the community,” Mr. Muwonge said. Beyond his pastoral duties, Pastor Bagenda has been a participatory figure in organizing community events, the president said. “He not only mobilized and encouraged members to attend community events but also took part in all activities, a truly hands-on individual who worked tirelessly to protect and preserve our Ugandan cultural values and instilled them to the young generation,” Mr. Muwonge recalled.

He disclosed that Pastor Bagenda purposely opened the Houston Praise Community Church (HPCC) to give the Ugandan descendants both a church home and a cultural point of reference; a hall in which all community activities were held. “Although HPCC is built on a Christian foundation, it is a non-denominational, a multi-racial, and a multi-cultural church which opened its doors and welcomed all people from all walks of life to visit and worship without discrimination,” Mr. Muwonge said.  By the time of his departure, Pastor Bagenda was a member of Houston-Ugandan Community (HUC) leadership, an adviser, and a spiritual leader   offering the much-needed community support. “We dearly miss his presence, proud to have associated with him and believe he is in a better place with the Lord whom he most loved to serve,” Mr. Muwonge said, adding, “He is departed but not gone; fare thee well Charlie,” Mr. Muwonge eulogized.

 

 The late Pastor Charles Bagenda

Despite the sudden demise of Pastor Charles Bagenda, some members of the Ugandan community in Houston took to social media to celebrate his life and service to humanity and their community. Beyond providing spiritual guidance and leadership to the faithful, the late Pastor Bagenda was a dedicated development community   advocate who talked the talk and walked the walk, going by the general sentiments echoed in eulogies posted on social media. “He once served as an elected member of the community leadership committee; initiated and implemented the acquisition of a 15-seater van for the Houston Ugandan community children for their transportation for tours and their singing and dancing performances, one of the posts read in part. “His Church, Houston Praise Community Church, as the name implies,   was a center of praise and a home for the community for which we thank God for his life,” one of the residents wrote. “He preached a message of love, unity, peace, and responsibility.  A major pillar in the community, Pastor Bagenda leaves a legacy of togetherness and a challenge    to the Houston community and beyond to emulate,” read another post. “His church was not only a place of worship but was much more; it offered a meeting place where community programs were undertaken; and he offered a welcoming and warm home where everybody regardless of class, gender, origin, religion, or age was embraced,” penned one resident. “There was no difference between his church, home and the community. He was a darling of the community and will be greatly missed,” another eulogized.

 

 The late Pastor Charles Bagenda

 

Born on October 8, 1965 in Iganga District, Pastor Charles Bagenda lived most of his childhood and part of his adult life in Kampala. He started his pastoral ministry in the late 1980s with the Redeemed Church near Makerere after meeting his Lord and savior at the Prayer Palace Church in Kibuye-then under the leadership of the late Pastor Balabyekubo. When he moved to the USA on May 20, 1995 he joined Christ United Pentecostal Ministries (CUPM) where he served as a minister for seven years.  He later founded Houston Praise Community Church in 2009 where he has been serving as the senior resident pastor until his maker called him home. He was assisted by pastor Ms. Lydia Lugumya. 

 

While the faithful community is mourning, it is also celebrating the life of the faithful man of God and is drawing its strength from Scripture, believing, unshakable and continuously thanking the creator for whatever comes into its lives as indeed Pastor Bagenda came into their lives and significantly impacted them. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:7(KJV). RIP, Pastor Charles Bagenda, the selfless servant of God and His people!