It is a heart wrecking feeling that comes with the bad news of the passing of my dear friend, H.E The President of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza.
I talked to him on phone a number of days ago about the fake news that’s been circulating on social media that his wife, Sister Denise Bucumi had contracted COVID-19. With a laugh, he told me that they were both free and that she was just receiving treatment for a condition of which I already have been aware. We then talked about the transition from presidency to fathering and about the school I built in Kayanza province.
We talked about the need to preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and he told me about a crusade he was preparing for this weekend.
This man was a student of good change, dedicated to see that kind of change in Africa’s poorest nation. As his name, Nkurunziza (Good news), so has he been to his country. He built a revolutionary Liberation Movement and became the Minister of Good Governance to his country. He ushered the country into democracy when he organized and won the first democratic polls ever to be held in Burundi.
A fighter, liberator, leader, preacher, reformer, a father of a nation, a sportsman and a coup d’etat crusher, but my friend couldn’t survive a heart attack! What happened?
I remember a time when I visited him with some friends from Asia. We were received by Ambassador Albert Nasasagare, who took us to lunch. The president had a football match to play that day, so when we were taken to meet him, we found him in his boots and team jersey during halftime, yet still ready to strategize on national issues for his nation. What a man!
A great gospel dancer and marvelous composer with songs like warakoze Imana Hari’ igihe nzokwilara nkurara I thank you ncurara-nguru daco. There is a time I will sit down and thank God.
He was a talent here on earth, so honorable and willingly gave to God. He’s right now been recruited in the heavenly choir and hes there singing in Kirundi, my friend, sing! Mr. Presido, wiicare.
Just before he came to close the meeting in Ngozi and to address the crowd among whom miracles had taken place, a little child who was badly crippled and whose mother sat in the market place using him as a beggar’s tool, was miraculously healed, stood up and walked – Making the prophetic statement that crippled Burundi can now walk.
My brother Pierre, as president, you broke the curse that plagued Burundi since independence from Nyagoshore to Ndadaye. Before Nkurunziza, no one stayed in power for three years. You broke that.
After having done all that, this is not the way to vacate. You did what the legendary Nelson Mandela did but sadly, you have gone too soon. You are in my generation; just three years young than me. After four hundred years of slavery, after you have seen the future of Burundi emerge, a few days after we had talked about what to do after COVID-19 lockdown – this is not the way to vacate.
Did you know this was coming? Did you know you were leaving? You prepared your wife to be a pastor, your political party to honor God and your nation to practice democracy and continuity. Why does greatness disappear so quickly?
I received a presidential from invitation President Nkurunziza to go address Burundi’s cabinet on ‘the way forward for a growing nation’ and to hold a crusade for five days and a conference for four days in Ngozi. I took the best I had.
While there, the Lord told me to pick up a vessel – a bowl designed with glass and gold as an example to Burundi. That Sunday evening, I presented it to the public and to the president, both as a revelation and also as a prophesy of where Burundi has been and where it was headed, to become a vessel of honor. Pierre Nkurunziza has been a vessel of Honour.
“For you have been the glass and gold vessel valuable and transparent.”
In fifty five years, you touched the world, you touched lives and you loved God.
My friend, I remember the following year, I was under severe attacks of terrible accusation by pastors and their recruits. They even called and told you about how ‘evil’ I was, and advised you never to work with me again but you refused to go by what they told you. Instead, you called and told me all about it. You loved and believed in me.
The very week I was heavily investigated, ridiculed and attacked, you invited me to Burundi and we broke ground for a new school. What a leader! What a man! President Nkurunziza never called me Pastor, not even Robert Kayanja. He called me ‘MY FRIEND.’
You visited our church, planted a tree and preached at the Miracle Centre Cathedral. Your great wisdom, big footsteps, love for our Lord Jesus Christ, your solidarity for Africa and National Patriotism for Burundi will be told for generations. We will tell generations that you left Burundi much better than you found it.
Did you know this was coming!
Your last speech to the Government Leaders was like Moses’ last words to Israel.
To my sister Denise, the former first lady of Burundi and a pastor, the Nkurunziza family, the nation of Burundi and her people, Be strong in the lord and in the power of God’s might. He will keep you and make His face shine upon you.
You have my prayers and Uganda loves You
My friend you did well fare thee well
Robert Kayanja
Miracle Center Cathedral
Kampala, Uganda
