By Charles Katabalwa
The Archbishop of Kampala Diocese Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga has urged Christians to be peace promoters in families, country and neighborhoods.
This was during the Holly mass for the beatification of fallen Tanzanian leader Julius Kambarage Nyerere where His Grace Lwanga said that Christians have to seek God’s presence by distancing themselves from the sin.
Nyerere, revered in Tanzania and across the continent, died 18 years ago, having previously led Tanzania between 1964 and 1985 as the East African nation’s first president.
His wife, Maria Nyerere, aged 87, attended a special service Thursday at the Namungongo Catholic Shrine as the former statesman is being lined up for beatification an early phase towards canonization or sainthood.
She was welcomed by Fr. Vincent Lubega, the parish priest of Namugongo.
President Yoweri Museveni too attended the prayers.
Pilgrims from Tanzania that had trekked all the way to Uganda for the Martyrs’ Day celebrations were also part of the congregation, as were Namilyango Junior Boys pupils and other faithful.
Pilgrims continue to make their way to Namugongo ahead of the Martyr’s Day, marked every June 3 to celebrate the lives of 22 Catholic and Anglican Christians killed several decades ago on the orders of then-Buganda king Mwanga because of their commitment to their faith.
Delivering his speech in the same mass, President Museveni says that Nyerere and the Uganda Martyrs contributes much to the unification of East Africa due to many pilgrims who trek from different regional countries to Namugongo Shrine which represent a true meeting of the regions ordinary citizen.
However, he advises Christians to avoid acts of tribalism and religious sectarianisms which he says that results to disunity and hatred amongst Ugandans.
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