Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)
Meddy Mulisa
30 April 2011
Bukoba — Retired Ambassador Andrew Kajungu Tibandebage is no more. Ambassador Tibandebage died on Tuesday at the age of 90 and was buried on Friday at his home village of Kihanga in Karagwe District, Kagera Region.
The retired diplomat was born on February 2, 1922, being a third son of Mzee Zacharia Kajungu’s 17 children.
He was born at Kasheshe/Mushozi village in Nyaishozi Ward and later on shifted to Kihanga village in 1955 where he lived for the rest of his life.
He was baptized at Bugene Catholic Church on December 21, 1932. He attended primary school at Bugene in 1932, and joined Kajunguti Middle School in Muleba District between 1934 and 1938.
In 1939, he joined St Mary’s Tabora before joining Makerere University in 1942 and graduated in 1944 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education.
He met Mwalimu Nyerere at St Mary’s Tabora, and they both went to Makerere University. After their graduation, they returned to St Mary’s Tabora, where the Ambassador was employed as a teacher from 1945 – 1955.
He briefly taught in Bugene School in Karagwe in 1955, and the following year he went to St Thomas College, (now Ihungo Secondary School), where he also taught for one year.
He was among very few living individuals who shared a big part of their lives with the late Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
The two were close friends, and Mwalimu was regarded as a member of Ambassador Tibandebage’s family.
The two used to come to Kihanga village on their holidays during their school days and later as leaders, according to close relatives.
Between 1956 and 1957, the Ambassador joined the London University College as a Tutorial Assistant, and returned to Ihungo in 1960.
When Tanganyika gained Independence in 1961, Mwalimu Nyerere appointed him as an ambassador, and worked in various countries between 1961 until his retirement in May 1976.
The countries that he served as a diplomat include the UK, West Germany, France, Turkey and Kinshasa.
On his retirement, he returned to Kihanga Village, where he joined his kin as a leader and guardian.
He was married to Catherine on July 4, 1946 and the couple were blessed with eight children, six boys and two girls, out of whom six are still alive. He is also survived by 21 grand children and three great-grand children.
The burial ceremony was conducted by Bishops Almachius Rweyongeza and Protase Rugambwa of the Kayanga and Kigoma Roman Catholic Dioceses, respectively.
The Kagera Regional Commissioner, Mr Mohammed Babu, on behalf of the government, described the late ambassador as a shining example who should be emulated by every Tanzanian.
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