19/08/2026
Tribute to Our Beloved Patriarch
Today, we honor and remember the patriarch of The Dove Project Africa in Iki Iki Village, Uganda…a man who was so much more than a supporter of our project.
Dad was there for The Dove from the very beginning. He believed deeply in what The Dove could become and in the hope it could bring to the people of his village. During construction, he faithfully supervised and monitored the work, always watching over the project and making sure things were moving forward. We will never forget how happy and proud he was when the building was finally completed.
But Dad's love for his community went far beyond The Dove Project.
During COVID, when so many people were afraid and the entire world was uncertain, Dad risked his own life to make sure the people of his village had food. When the government became concerned that the food distribution was political and even sent policemen to the site, Dad didn't give up. He simply found another way. He divided the food among a few people at a time and carried it from home to home so that people wouldn't have to gather together.
That was Dad.
He served. He protected. He cared. He found a way.
We had the privilege of appointing Dad to the board of The Dove Project, and just as he was beginning that new chapter with us, he began his own battle with cancer. Though his time on the board was far too short, his influence on The Dove will never be.
And for me personally, Dad was something even more precious.
He welcomed me into his family and adopted me as his American daughter.
That was one of the greatest gifts of my life. I will forever be grateful that God allowed our paths to cross and that he chose to love me as a daughter. His sweet smile, his tender ways, his gentle spirit, and the way he cared for people will always hold a special place in my heart.
But I know I am only one of the many children who were blessed to call him Dad. His own children were his greatest legacy, and the love, strength, wisdom, and compassion he poured into them will continue through each of them. My heart aches for them as they grieve the loss of their father, and I pray they will always know how deeply their father's life touched people far beyond their own family and village.
He was a loving and caring father, and that same love extended far beyond the walls of his home. He had a heart for his family, his village, and the people God placed in his path.
He may have been the patriarch of The Dove Project, but to so many of us, he was Dad.
His absence will be felt deeply around The Dove, throughout Iki Iki Village, and in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. We will miss seeing that sweet face around the Dove Project. We will miss his presence, his wisdom, his kindness, and the quiet way he loved and served his people.
But his legacy will remain.
Every life he touched, every person he helped, every meal he carried to a family in need, every day he stood watching over The Dove, and every child he loved and raised is part of the beautiful legacy he leaves behind.
Rest well, Dad.
Thank you for believing in The Dove.
Thank you for loving your village.
Thank you for loving your family.
Thank you for loving us.
And thank you for allowing me the incredible privilege of being your American daughter.
Your love crossed an ocean, and we will carry it in our hearts always. ❤️🕊️
~ Candace Muhlenkamp, Co-Founder The Dove Project Africa.
