Six days after his consecration as Bishop of Mpwapwa, the Rt. Rev. George Chileto, died of a heart attack after having preached at the funeral service of a colleague’s wife.
On 3 Sept 2022 Bishop Chileto attended the funeral of Hilda Lugendo, the wife of the Bishop of the Southern Highlands in Tanzania, the Rt. Rev. Julius Lugendo. Mrs. Lugendo died in Norway while traveling on holiday after the Lambeth Conference. The scheduled preacher for the service was late and the gathered bishops asked Bishop Chiteto to preach the sermon.
The Citizen newspaper reported that in his sermon preached at Christ Church Cathedral in Muheza, Bishop Chiteto said: ““I would love when my time comes, that it should be similar to Ms Lugendo’s death. It was a very soft one and with no pain.”
When he sat down in his chair after preaching, Bishop Chiteto suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Primate of Tanzania, Archbishop Maimbo Mndolwa, told The Citizen Bishop Chiteto suffered from hypertension and diabetes. He was 59 years of age.
“Funeral arrangements are underway, and since the place for his burial will be held in his diocese, then the faithful in Tanga will have the opportunity to pay their last respect on Monday and thereafter, a journey to Mpwapwa will commence,” the archbishop said.
Bishop Chiteto was a Church Army officer, who went on to earn a master degree in theology from St John’s College in Dodoma, where he was teaching before his election as bishop. He leaves behind his wife Monica, and six children.
