By: Ismael Kasooha
MAYUGE
President Yoweri Museveni has hailed Bishop James Hannington for his zeal to spread the good news of Christ and His redemption of mankind.
This was contained in the President’s message delivered for him by the Rt. Hon. Nabbanja Robinah, the Prime Minister of Uganda during the commemoration of Bishop Hannington day at Kyando village, in Mayuge District.
The President noted that even though Bishop Hannington did not live to observe the fruits of his advance to Africa to spread the good news of Christ and His redemption of mankind, we celebrate and remember him on this day with gratitude.
“We delight in the civilization and transformation that Christianity brought through education and awareness about health and hygiene as well as a shift from archaic traditional practices that were abusing their Human rights. Bishop Hannington Day is therefore a great day for us all and a reminder that we should hold fast unto keeping the Covenant of our relationship with God until he comes back,” noted Museveni.
The President quoted the bible in the book of Revelation 3:11 NKJV` ‘Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”
Museveni said that Bishop Hannington stood the test of time and suffered tribulation of the time to death.
“We believe that he is among the multitude of witnesses/Saints in heaven that overcame and we too must overcome whatever tests we face in this world to the glorification of God,” he said.
He noted that the zeal to spread the word that Bishop Hannington displayed must be a lesson to all of us; to be zealous at doing good for the communities and impact them towards transformation in all our daily dealings especially as leaders.
He further noted that since the NRM Government came into power, many wars had been fought and the economy had been revamped but there was still a war with poverty which has been embarked on by coming up with poverty eradication programs, the latest being the Parish Development Model. He added that communities had been reached, the youth sensitized and vulnerable groups had been financed to join the money economy.
He said that people have testified about the usefulness of these programs and we shall not relent on working to cause a complete change towards self-reliance.
“Let us, therefore, not waver at doing good now because even if we die, there will be people who will benefit from our sweat. This is the true spirit of Christianity. The common good will reign over individual satisfaction and will be rewarded by God,” he observed.
The President thanked all the people who congregated to remember Bishop Hannington from all parts of the country and beyond boundaries and asked them to embrace the spirit of Patriotism and Pan- Africanism in order to build the future and make the world a better place.
In her remarks, the Prime Minister assured the people of Mayuge and Busoga sub region in general that the NRM government will fulfill all the promises made and appealed to them to vote for NRM and President Yoweri Museveni.
The 3rd Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without Portfolio Rt. Hon. Rukia Nakadama commended President Museveni for fulfilling pledges made in the area and appealed for more.
The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, His Grace Steven Kazimba Mugalu appreciated the Government of Uganda and President Museveni for recognizing religious places as tourism sites and the support he has rendered to the church.
Kazimba called for peace especially during the elections saying that the youths fight and are killed but those encouraging them to fight end up reconciling and dining together.
“The youth go to war, kill each other over what they don’t know or understand. But the elders who send these people to war end up reconciling, hugging and dining together. Let us be careful as youth not to be used by other people,” said Kazimba.
The local leaders in Mayuge District lauded President Museveni and the NRM government for supporting the development of their area.
Bishop James Hannington was born in 1847 and was sent out from England in 1884 by the Anglican Church as missionary Bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa.
People thronging Kyando village rocks to pray for God’s mercy. This is the place where Bishop Hannington used to stay before he was killed.
As Bishop Hannington was travelling towards Uganda, he was apprehended by emissaries of King Mwanga and he and his companions were brutally treated and, a week later on 29th October 1885, he was killed in the present day Kyando, Bukantuube in Mayuge District.
The Anglican Church in Uganda annually commemorates this day in honor of the Martyr who was killed on the orders of King Mwanga.
The function was graced by Ministers, Members of Parliament, local leaders and thousands of believers from across the country.
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