KAMPALA – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has said that the Christian faith stands on a firm foundation since martyrs’ blood is the seed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In a speech read for him by Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi during the commemoration of Saint Bishop James Hannington day at the site of his martyrdom in Kyando, Bukatube sub county, Bunya West County in Mayuge district the President hailed the immense love of God that Bishop Hannington showed by risking his own life in the heart of Africa in fulfillment of God’s eternal command of spreading envangelization.
The President said that in spite of his eminent killing the Bishop still stood firm and kept on reciting scriptures from the Bible until he was killed on 29th October in 1885.
President Museveni commended the church for her continuing crucial role in extending social services to the people in key areas like health and education.
The President reminded the people that while working for the coming of God’s Kingdom they should not neglect their own lives on earth.
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga promised to raise the matter of development of the Catholic Shrine in Kyando on the floor of parliament and promised to support all efforts of the church of Uganda to develop the area both as a religious and tourism site.
The Archbishop of the Province of Church of Uganda His Grace Samuel Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu urged government to help in the development of the pilgrimage site where Bishop James Hannington was slain as well making 29th October when he was killed, a public holiday in Uganda.
He said that Bishop Hannington, like the Ugandan Martyrs, is also recognised as the first Anglican Church martyr in Uganda who was killed in Kyando and revealed that US dollars 5million is required to start on the development of Kyando pilgrimage site and putting up a church in honour of Saint Bishop James Hannington.
He said that there is need for constant prayer in atonement for the killing of the Bishop and whose body was first hidden and secretly buried.
Bishop Kaziimba Mugalu said that the myth of enemies coming from the East was santified by the blood of the prelate since now the eastern route is the gate way for most of the imports into Uganda.
He added that as the missionary died he prayed to God that his blood causes evangelisation in Uganda and which has been granted by God.
The Bishop said that religious persecution of Christians further spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ like a wildfire. He urged Christians against losing hope when facing challeges whether it’s life threatening as long as the cause is divine and Godly.
On the forthcoming elections the Bishop called on all people to respect one another irrespective of the political party adherence.
