WITH deep sorrow and profound gratitude for a life well-lived, I am grieving the passing of Advocate Josephat Sebastian Rweyemamu, one of Tanzania’s most distinguished lawyers of his generation, and a man whose influence on my life cannot be measured.
He departed this world suddenly on 14th August 2025, in what a close priest friend described as “a holy death.” He collapsed in a church setting after a day spent in prayer and work.
To the world, Mr. Rweyemamu was a respected legal mind, a devoted Christian, a community leader, and a man of unfailing kindness. To our family, he was “Mjomba” – uncle. But to me, he was far more: a foster father, a guardian, a mentor, a benefactor, and the steady pillar on which the foundation of my life was built.
Our bond was not coincidental. As a child, he himself had been raised by my grandmother, Ma Ernestina Matondo, at my grandfather’s home. Years later, in my own moment of great need, he became the answer to a prayer she made on my behalf.
After my first term in Form One, my school raised its fees from 1,000 to 1,500 shillings. This was an insurmountable challenge for my other grandmother, Ma Justina Kokugonza, who had single-handedly provided for my education from Grade One. She sold everything she could, but it was not enough. I even tried to complement her efforts by making charcoal with my two elder brothers who lived in Rugaze, Izimbya, but our efforts failed.
The school position was clear: without the full amount, I would not be allowed back for the second term.
With just a week before the school reopened, when I was almost losing hope, Bibi Ernestina spoke to Mr. Rweyemamu. Without hesitation, without conditions, he took over the full responsibility for my school fees and needs – and never stopped until I had completed A-Level.
Since his children were still very young, whenever we went out together and met people, he always introduced me everywhere as his firstborn. During holidays, I stayed at his home, first at Uswahilini and later at Miembeni in Bukoba township, helping with chores and some office work at his legal firm.
His children have remained like siblings to me for life. They are nine – four boys, five girls: Fortunata, Meinrad, Justine, Redempta, Speciosa, Renalda, Angelica, Zacharia, and Fabian. At the time of his death, this is what he had made of his offspring – two lawyers, three business operators, a banker, a pilot, and a medical doctor. The youngest is still a student. Until his death, he had 21 grandchildren. What a legacy!
He was at the height of his legal career – admired, influential, and unmatched in the courtroom. I often accompanied him to court, watching him dismantle police evidence with masterful skill. His eloquence and command of English enriched my own learning, as I read through his case files and listened to his submissions.
He planted in me the seeds of a love for law and, though I later chose Philosophy and eventually Journalism, it was his counsel that steered me toward the profession I have pursued to this day.
Without him, I would never have completed secondary school, never gone to university, never become a journalist, never walked the path that has made me a global citizen and a changemaker. He literally chose my profession and shaped my destiny.
Mr. Rweyemamu was a man of joy and humour, deeply prayerful, and devoted to serving others. He respected everyone he met, lived generously, and embodied the Christian call to love one’s neighbour. He leaves behind a legacy of compassion, mentorship, and service to God and humankind that will continue to inspire.
The hardest part for me is that I will not be in Bukoba (Tanzania) on Monday, 18th August 2025, to pay my last respects at his burial. But though I am far away in Sweden, my heart will be at his graveside. I will stand firm to ensure his legacy lives on – for without him, my story would have ended before it began.
May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may his life’s example continue to guide us all.
Rest well, Mjomba. You ran your race with honour.
Read more about what a Swedish friend said of Advocate Josephat Rweyemamu here:
