Fr Robert Kaggwa (The Tablet, 7 February 2015), an unknown-known faithful follower of Christ, was, for years a passionate and consumed missionary of the reign of God. He was a very sensitive pastor, known to very many people but he remained unofficious and stood as a gate-keeper, at the threshold.
Robert was a man of many extraordinary natural qualities and had calls within in a Call. For, after all, he was aware of the constant creativity that God is for those who pay attention. Robert was famous for being a bridge-builder, almost restlessly, like a prophet of old. He lived through in the ministries he lived: as an assistant parish priest in Burkina Faso, as a language student, as a teacher at the Missionary Institute London, as a spiritual companion to several missionary students, as a chaplain at Roehampton University, as a carer for orphans, etc.
He did not only lecture about the imminent and elusive Kingdom of God: he lived its practical consequences. He sought justice, looked for the marginalised, the little, the forgotten, the unseen, and inevitably made the powerful uncomfortable and upset. For years, Robert lived a full life, had his diary full, slept little and lived simply. He remained coherent in his openness of people of sorts, believing that salvation was for all. He liked teaching and inspired an endless capacity to learn and to explore (Oh yes, even to question).
Robert was careful to guard against what John Sullivan called "the production of clones or of obedient, loyal and faithful followers". Robert pushed his audience to be more than "map-readers of the world", empowering them "to be map-makers" of the constantly changing world, a world that can be both predictable and unpredictable. His 55 years were a full life, even if in liminality. He lived like a prophet, rejected at home, but admired especially by the afflicted and the poor in spirit. May Robert Kaggwa enjoy being face to face with the Just One he represented and passionately served as he trod on not too few thorny paths in this massive valley of tears.
Aloysius Beebwa, Ealing, London
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