Title: Then Sings My Soul: Nine Decades of God’s Blessings
Author: Sam B. Rutega
Price: Shs100,000
Availability: Available in most bookshops
Pages: 285
Published: 2024
Then Sings My Soul: Nine Decades of God’s Blessings tells the remarkable story of Sam Rutega, whose life stretches across some of the most important chapters in Uganda’s history. It is a warm and reflective account of family, faith, public service, perseverance and the many experiences that have shaped his 93 years. The foreword is written by Rt Hon Ruhakana Rugunda.
From the opening pages, one is drawn to the simplicity and sincerity with which Rutega tells his story. He writes in a calm and measured way, allowing his memories to unfold naturally. There is little attempt to dramatise events or place himself at the centre of history. This gives the memoir an intimate quality, almost like sitting with an elder and listening as he recalls the people, places and events that have remained with him over the years.
Rutega was born in Rujumbura, in present-day Rukungiri District in the Kigezi sub-region. He traces his roots to two respected lineages: one connected to Karegyesa, Beene Kirenzi, leader of the Mpororo Kingdom of Rujumbura, and the other to Muginga of the Kanyonza Kingdom in present-day Kanungu District. These family roots provide an interesting beginning to a life that would eventually take him far beyond the surroundings of his childhood.
His early years were shaped by family, illness, education and determination. At times, poor health disrupted his childhood, while going to school required considerable effort. He recalls walking long distances over several days each school term in pursuit of an education at Kigezi High School. He later attended St Leo’s College Kyegobe and eventually Makerere College of the University of East Africa.
Education opened the door to a long and distinguished career in public service. Rutega served as assistant district commissioner (ADC) and later district commissioner (DC) in Mbarara, Soroti and Hoima before taking on increasingly senior responsibilities. Over the years, he served as private secretary to Prime Minister Milton Obote, executive director of the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), secretary of the Bank of Uganda and permanent secretary, among other appointments.
Through these responsibilities, he found himself close to several important moments in Uganda’s early years as an independent country. One of the most historically significant was his involvement in discussions concerning the Kabaka of Buganda, the Omukama of Bunyoro and the long-standing ‘lost counties’ question. His recollections give the reader a personal glimpse into a sensitive period when the young nation was trying to resolve difficult historical and political questions.
The changing fortunes of Uganda also affected Rutega personally. The Idi Amin years brought fear, uncertainty and danger. Among the most striking episodes in the memoir is his encounter with the State Research Bureau, an experience from which he was fortunate to emerge alive. Looking back at such moments, Rutega repeatedly returns to his faith and his conviction that God guided and protected him.
Faith runs gently through the book and gives meaning to its title. Rutega sees God’s presence in the opportunities he received, the dangers he survived, the people who entered his life and the family with whom he has shared his journey. His gratitude feels personal and sincere. As the years unfold, the reader begins to understand why, looking back over nine decades, his soul still sings.
The quiet manner in which Rutega tells his story is one of the memoir’s most appealing qualities. Those who know him will recognise the thoughtful and restrained personality behind the words. At times, one senses that there are many other stories he could have told. A lifetime in senior public service inevitably comes with experiences and conversations that remain private. His discretion is therefore also part of the character of the man whose story we are reading.
Family brings particular warmth to the memoir. At the centre of that family story is his wife of 63 years, Ms Freda Rutega. She has shared the greater part of this long journey with him, providing love, companionship, stability and strength through the demands of public service, raising a family, periods of uncertainty and the many changes that came with the passing years.
Behind the official appointments, transfers, long working days and periods of national uncertainty was a home that had to remain together. Ms Rutega’s patience, devotion and steady presence provided an important foundation for Sam and their children.
His reflections on fatherhood reveal another side of his character. He valued education, honesty, discipline and respect, while giving his children room to discover their own interests and pursue their own paths. The values he passed on were often taught through example. His children grew up watching a father who believed in hard work, humility, integrity, faith and service.
The tributes included in the book add warmth and colour to the story. Family members, friends and people whose lives crossed Rutega’s path share their own memories of him. Through their voices, the reader encounters the father, husband, friend, colleague and mentor alongside the public servant. They recall his generosity, his willingness to guide others and the opportunities he quietly created for people around him.
These personal recollections are especially valuable because Rutega’s modesty sometimes leads him to say very little about the impact he had on others. The tributes help fill those spaces and give the reader a fuller picture of the person behind the public appointments.
There is much here for younger generations to reflect upon. The author’s journey from a boy walking long distances in search of an education to serving in some of Uganda’s most senior public offices speaks to the value of perseverance, discipline and opportunity. His experiences also offer lessons about leadership. Position brought responsibility, and public service required integrity, patience and respect for others.
The historical value of the memoir is equally important. Rutega’s life spans colonial Uganda, the movement towards self-government, independence, the challenges faced by the young republic, the difficult years of Idi Amin, periods of political upheaval and the rebuilding of the country that followed. He witnessed many of these changes personally and, at different points in his career, participated in the institutions through which Uganda was being governed and developed.
Personal memoirs such as this help preserve parts of our history that can easily disappear with time. Official records tell us what governments decided and what institutions did. Personal recollections bring us closer to the people who lived through those events. They preserve conversations, relationships, fears, friendships, difficult choices and ordinary moments that rarely find their way into official documents.
Perhaps this is where Then Sings My Soul leaves its deepest impression. Behind the history and public appointments is a very human journey. We meet a young boy seeking an education, a young public servant learning the responsibilities of office, a husband building a life with Freda, a father raising a family, a Ugandan living through difficult periods in his country’s history and, eventually, an elderly man looking back on it all with gratitude.
At 93, Rutega has much to look back upon. There have been achievements, difficult moments, unexpected turns, friendships, family milestones and occasions when life itself hung in the balance. Through them all, his faith has remained a steady companion.
Then Sings My Soul: Nine Decades of God’s Blessings leaves the reader with enduring lessons about faith, family, humility, perseverance, integrity and service. Rutega’s story echoes the importance of remembering where we come from, appreciating those who walk the journey with us, serving with integrity, and remaining grateful for the gift of life.
By the final page, the title feels deeply personal. After 93 years of blessings, trials, service, family and faith, Rutega looks back on his journey with a grateful heart. And indeed, his soul sings.
The book was launched by Hon Sam Kutesa on August 30 at Serena Hotel.