It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Abdallah Nguyu, a long term friend and colleague of The Rufiji Leprosy Trust. IN the letter that follows, Burchard Rwamtoga pays tribute to his life and work in service of the people of Kindwitwi.
Tribute from Burchard Rwamtoga
It is really painful to write about the loss of Abdallah Nguyu, a person I worked with for 14 years at a former leprosy Colony based at Kindwitwi Village, Utete, Rufiji District, Tanzania. Abdallah passed away on Saturday the 25th May, 2024 at Kindwitwi village due to heart attack and diabetes. According with his Muslim faith, his body was buried at the village on the same day.
Abdallah was born at Kindwitwi to leprosy affected parents. He and his elder brother, whom I happened to know, were not affected by leprosy though they were born from leprosy affected parents and lived in the highly leprosy affected community.
I was employed as an Administrator at Kindwitwi village in 1989 to look after the funds donated by the Rufiji Leprosy Trust and other donors for the social and economic rehabilitation program for over 600 leprosy affected persons living at the village. On my arrival, I met Abdallah who by then had completed standard seven and Fr Robin Lamburn, who was the head of the leprosy village, had engaged him as his assistant in the provision of social services to the needy.
Abdallah was a bright young boy who was always providing a helping hand on my duties. I recall one day during our normal discussions he informed me of his intention to upgrade his education level by attending an evening program to attain a secondary school education. I informed Rufiji Leprosy Trust where the Trustees agreed to engage him along with other village youths in the education program for the children of the leprosy affected families. Abdallah completed his 4 years education, passed the National Examination and was awarded an Ordinary Secondary School Education certificate. To equip him with more knowledge on the provision of social services to leprosy affected families, Rufiji Leprosy Trust agreed to sponsor him to attend a one-year certificate course in Social Work at the Institute of Social work in Dar es salaam – by then the capital of Tanzania.
On his return, Abdallah resumed the role of the village social worker. He put all his knowledge in doing several tasks that included, organizing the sponsorship program for the children from the leprosy affected parents to attend kindergarten, primary, secondary and college education. He was also involved in supervising the villager’s agricultural program, the provision of social services such as the distribution of seeds, food, and other items to the needy. Until 2003, the year I left Kindwitwi to take on another job at German Leprosy and TB Relief Association in Dar es Salaam, with the close assistance from Abdallah more than 300 leprosy affected persons were already integrated in the community either by joining their families (mainly children) within the village or outside the village or building their own houses on the land provided by the village government. Also, Abdallah participated fully and did a lot in transforming the leprosy village to a Care Centre and Community Development Association and then to the Foundation of Rapid Response to TB and Leprosy. After I left, Abdallah took over the position of Manager until a year before his death.
The good thing I know about Abdallah, being himself a Kindwitwi village born person, he never joked with his work. He was always at the fore front to make sure that his fellow villagers including the youths and elders were always tirelessly struggling to become self-sufficient in food production instead of depending on handouts.
Abdallah was a man with principles. He raised his children and personally assisted them to attend formal education up to the University level. By the time he met his death, one of his sons was already graduated as a secondary school teacher and a daughter as a medical personnel. I am optimistic that his children who live in Kindwitwi will continue the spirit of their father by keeping a helping hand to the needy and also, by providing good advice to the village youths on their education / career development.
Dear Abdallah, even though I personally, all villagers at Kindwitwi village and everybody who knows you we are all saddened by losing you we pray to our Almighty God to keep your soul in Eternal Peace. Amen
Abdallah was a well-respected friend and colleague. He made a significant contribution to the community, acting as a crucial link between the village and the board in the UK. He will be sorely missed.