Busoga Yaiffe to rehabilitate Bishop James Hannington memorial site

Sep 11, 2014

Busoga Yaiffe, an umbrella association of the Basoga in the Diaspora has partnered with Busoga diocese to rehabilitate Bishop James Hannington Memorial site, as one of the tourist attraction sites in the region.

By Donald Kiirya

Busoga Yaiffe, an umbrella association of the Basoga in the Diaspora has partnered with Busoga diocese to rehabilitate Bishop James Hannington Memorial site, as one of the tourist attraction sites in the region.  


Although the place had been known for religious significance, it has a fascinating experience that everyone should feel and once rehabilitated; it will increase on the number of tourists in Busoga and Uganda at large.


Rev. James Kivunike, the chairman of Bishop James Hannington site development committee revealed the plan to the New vision on Tuesday.

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Rev. James Kivunike (R), Rev. Can. Thomas Mwandha (L) and Busoga Yaiffe Vice President Hellen Namutamba (M) seated in a cave that used to be a library to the late Bishop James Hannington at Kyando in Mayuge. PHOTO/Donald Kiirya

Kivunike said Busoga diocese signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Busoga Yaiffe 6 months ago to develop the site into a modern tourist site adding that they have been in touch with Busoga Yaiffe for a year.


He said Busoga Yaiffe came up with a site plan and some of the projects to be established on the 165 acres of land at Kyando include developing a well that is said to have holly water into a water processing plant, construct Bishop Hannington School of Theological training and a Technical/vocational institute.


Other projects include construction of a modern hotel to provide accommodation facilities to tourists who will be visiting the site, swimming pool, cottages, hospital, Paramedical school, modern trading centre where locals will be purchasing commodities, and also establish a small game park.

true Rev. Can. Thomas Mwandha (L) and Busoga Yaiffe Vice President Hellen Namutamba (R) washing hands with holly water at a spring well that will be developed into a water processing plant. The same well was used by Bishop James Hannington before his death.PHOTO/ Donald Kiirya


“Kyando is 13km south-west of Mayuge town, adjacent to Lake Victoria. Along the hill is a popular church built to commemorate the life of Bishop James Hannington’s journey in Busoga,” Kivunike said.


According to documented history, it is believed that this is the point at which Bishop Hannington died on October 29th, 1885, while spreading Christianity, which the local leaders had outlawed at that time.


It is believed that Hannington was the first Christian martyr, and every 29 October of the year, Christians visit Kyando to celebrate his life.


“Kyando is very important to us because it makes us remember those who have shed blood for Christ and the word of God,” said Ven. Rev. Can. Thomas Mwandha, the Archdeacon of Kyando.


He added that the site has various tourist features which include Bishop James Hannington’s cave (bedroom), Library, devotions and prayer area, Bishop Hannington’s murder stone, spring well, and torture stone among others.


“The church is in touch with the family of the late Bishop James Hannington in London to develop the site too,” Mwandha said.

trueRev. James Kivunike (L), Rev. Can. Thomas Mwandha (R) and Busoga Yaiffe's Vice President Hellen Namutamba (M) praying close to Bishop James Hannington's murder stone at Kyando in Mayuge .PHOTO/ Donald Kiirya


He said “In commemoration of this evangelist, on 29th October every year, the Anglican Church both in Uganda and the UK, particularly Hannington’s hometown Hove, celebrate the day to mark the missionary life of Hannington.”


Hellen Namutamba, Busoga Yaiffe’s vice president commended the wise leadership of Bishop Michael Kyomya for allowing the site to be developed for the benefit of Busoga and Uganda at large.


Namutamba said they will also invite more investors in the Diaspora to come and develop the site to international standards.


She appealed to government to connect power to Kyando site through its rural electrification program so that works of construction of the projects are quickened.


Namutamba said developing the site is part of the identified developmental projects of Busoga Yaiffe ahead of their Busoga Investment Convention 2014 “Olwekobaano” slated for December 17th to 20th, 2014 at Crested Crane Hotel in Jinja.


She said the theme of the convention is ‘Exploring and Exploiting Investments for the Transformation of Busoga Region’.    

      
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