Church Urges Leaders to Uphold Justice at Memorial Service for Lissu's Brother

The Catholic Church in Tanzania has urged leaders to uphold justice and defend the vulnerable, warning that denying people justice and distorting the truth are not acts of wisdom. Reverend Father Laurance Lucumay made the appeal during a memorial Mass for Advocate Alute Mughwai, the elder brother of Chadema national chairman Tundu Lissu, in Arusha on Sunday, November 8, 2026. The service was attended by hundreds of mourners, including advocates.

Advocate Mughwai died on November 1, 2026, at Selian Hospital in Arusha while receiving treatment. He was the brother of Chadema chairman Tundu Lissu, who was sentenced to four years in prison by the High Court of Tanzania's Dar es Salaam Sub-Registry on November 6, 2026. Lissu will be unable to attend his brother's funeral due to his imprisonment. The body of Advocate Mughwai was transported to Singida Region on Monday, November 9, 2026, for burial.

During the memorial service, Father Lucumay urged people to treat everyone fairly, uphold truth and justice, particularly when dealing with poor and vulnerable members of society. He reminded the congregation that nobody lives on earth forever and that Christians should remain grateful to God for the gift of life and fulfil their responsibilities with integrity. The priest also described Advocate Mughwai as a dedicated legal professional who had used his expertise to defend the poor and vulnerable.

Father Lucumay expressed sympathy with Lissu, saying the Chadema leader would have wanted to be present to accompany his brother on his final journey. He urged the family to pray for Lissu, asking God to help him cope with the loss and accept the circumstances surrounding his brother's death. The priest also noted that the two brothers had shared a particularly close relationship, supporting one another through both happy and difficult times.

Meanwhile, Advocate Paul Kisabo said the legal team representing Lissu had begun the process of challenging his four-year prison sentence at the Court of Appeal. A notice of intention to appeal had already been filed within the statutory 10-day period. Kisabo questioned the High Court's decision to convict Lissu of incitement after acquitting him of treason.

Kisabo argued that the court had found that the statements at the centre of the case did not amount to treason but subsequently treated them as incitement. He said the defence team remained convinced that Lissu was innocent and would pursue all available legal avenues at the Court of Appeal to challenge the ruling. Kisabo expressed hope that Lissu would eventually regain his freedom and resume his campaign for justice and a new Constitution in Tanzania.

The memorial service was led by three priests: Reverend Fathers Lucumay, Elton Njau, and Evance Riziki. The service was held at the deceased's home in the Fire area of Arusha, and Advocate Mughwai's body was laid to rest in Mahambe Village, Ikungi District, Singida Region, on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. The Catholic Church's call for justice and fairness in society comes at a time when Tanzania is grappling with issues of governance and human rights.

Key points

• The Catholic Church in Tanzania urges leaders to uphold justice and defend the vulnerable.
• Advocate Alute Mughwai, brother of Chadema chairman Tundu Lissu, is laid to rest in Singida Region.
• Lissu's legal team challenges his four-year prison sentence at the Court of Appeal.