“The night whistles, the lake immense and still like a prairie, Tito Dal Lago waiting for us in the crowd, watchful and curly-haired, beneath a heavy moon among the eucalyptus trees. It is the whitest black I have ever seen; he would never leave his Uganda for any substitute Europe. He was born in Africa, ‘born free,’ he emphasizes, driving his off-road vehicle like a ranger.”
This is how the Italian writer Paolo Rumiz, described Tito Dal Lago in his novel Il bene ostinato.
Two eyes, clear and deeply blue, gazing at you from behind his glasses. They looked like his father’s, Professor Anacleto Dal Lago. A descreet man, one of few words, yet always available. One of those you could count on, at any moment, to solve problems and keep things running, with discretion and professionalism.
“Shock and profound sorrow. An enormous loss for the whole CUAMM,” says Fr. Dante Carraro. “Almost 40 years at CUAMM, a life lived WITH Africa. This was Tito Dal Lago. A great friend to everyone, a true point of reference, a real ‘African’ who loved Africa with all his life and his family. Thousands of people passed through that welcoming port that was his home in Kampala, on Ggaba Road, Kansanga, where you would have always found fruit salad and coffee.”
Born in Nkobu, Kenya, in 1955, where his father Anacleto and mother Bruna had moved shortly after their wedding, Tito Dal Lago loved Africa and CUAMM throughout his life. In the late 1980s, he began working in Uganda with his wife Nicoletta, where he continued to serve as the country’s administrative manager until today.
“I can only say good things about Tito, a great man, friendly with everyone, always available and available,” comments Antonio Sebben, CUAMM logistician and handyman who worked alongside Tito for over 20 years.
And Chiara Conti, Uganda desk officer, adds: “Tito and Nicoletta were the first to welcome us when my husband Matteo and I arrived in Uganda for the first time ever with our baby Gregorio in 2008. Every time I returned to them, I felt at home. ‘Papa Tito’: that’s what the whole staff in Uganda called him, because he was a reference point for everyone. In addition to his role as administrative manager, he also handled logistics, relations with the Italian embassy, and welcomed all newcomers to the country, following their journey and stay.”
With affection and deep esteem, he is remembered by Peter Lochoro, Country Manager in Uganda: “Tito Dal Lago, commonly called ‘Papa’ by colleagues in Uganda, was an essential figure in the country. Although CUAMM began operating in Uganda in 1958, it is thanks to Tito that its presence was strengthened from the mid-1980s, until it became what it is today: one of the main health NGOs in the country. Tito dedicated 40 of his 69 years to working for CUAMM in Uganda, a personal contribution of inestimable value. He was a point of reference, a source of advice and support for staff at all levels, which earned him the nickname Papa. He had an extraordinary ability to find solutions in a simple and straightforward way. We valued his competence across many different fields, which enabled him to give the right guidance for the challenges we faced. Drawing on his long experience, he always did everything with the humility and simplicity that distinguished him. The void Tito leaves behind is immense. I pray God that his soul may rest in peace.”
Tito Dal Lago passed away last night, around 11 p.m., suddenly and quietly, at home with his wife Nicoletta. He leaves the entire CUAMM family, from Africa to Italy, and all who knew him, with an immense void.
“We accompany him to Paradise with our prayer and express all our affection to Nicoletta, to his sons Francesco and Davide, and to his brother and sisters,” concludes Fr. Dante.
The funeral of Tito Dal Lago will be held on October 2 in Kampala. His ashes will then be brought back to Italy and laid to rest in Brendola, in the tomb where his parents Anacleto and Bruna rest. Director General Fr. Dante Carraro will be attending the funeral representing the embrace of all CUAMM.
