Museveni orders Uganda flags to fly at half-mast
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has directed that all flags fly at half-mast from yesterday until the burial of the Pope.
BY Hamis Kaheru
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has directed that all flags fly at half-mast from yesterday until the burial of the Pope.
In a condolence message to the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, yesterday, Museveni expressed “deep condolences and sorrow to all Catholic faithful in the world and Uganda in particular.â€
“Only yesterday (Saturday) morning my wife and myself knelt down and prayed for the Pope in his suffering because we saw him as a friend of Uganda. May the Almighty God rest his soul in eternal soul,†Museveni said in a statement issued from State House yesterday.
Museveni paid tribute to the Pope for leaving fond memories among Ugandans after his visit in 1993. Museveni said, “On behalf of the people of Uganda, I extend deep condolences to the Catholics of Uganda and all over the world following the sad news of the death of Pope John Paul II in Rome last night (Saturday).
“Ugandans remember with fond memories his visit to Uganda in 1993. He visited the four corners of Uganda, as you will remember: Soroti, Kasese, Gulu and Kampala.
“He was instrumental in opposing atheism in Eastern Europe, getting closer to the world peoples by visiting so many parts of the world and establishing communication among the world faiths: Protestants, the Muslims and Jews.
“He was the only Pope to apologise to the world peoples for the mistakes committed by the Catholic Church over the centuries, against the Jews, Spanish inquisitions, etc. I direct that flags in Uganda fly at half-mast from today, April 3 2005, to the day of his Holiness’ burial.â€
Meanwhile, the Uganda Episcopal Conference yesterday announced that a book of condolences would be open at the Nunciature in Mbuya for the members of the diplomatic corps, government officials, cultural leaders and MPs.
A statement said there would be another book of condolences at the Cardinal’s residence in Rubaga for anyone who wishes to register condolences.
The books will be open from 10am to 3pm for three days starting today.
Ends
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has directed that all flags fly at half-mast from yesterday until the burial of the Pope.
In a condolence message to the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, yesterday, Museveni expressed “deep condolences and sorrow to all Catholic faithful in the world and Uganda in particular.â€
“Only yesterday (Saturday) morning my wife and myself knelt down and prayed for the Pope in his suffering because we saw him as a friend of Uganda. May the Almighty God rest his soul in eternal soul,†Museveni said in a statement issued from State House yesterday.
Museveni paid tribute to the Pope for leaving fond memories among Ugandans after his visit in 1993. Museveni said, “On behalf of the people of Uganda, I extend deep condolences to the Catholics of Uganda and all over the world following the sad news of the death of Pope John Paul II in Rome last night (Saturday).
“Ugandans remember with fond memories his visit to Uganda in 1993. He visited the four corners of Uganda, as you will remember: Soroti, Kasese, Gulu and Kampala.
“He was instrumental in opposing atheism in Eastern Europe, getting closer to the world peoples by visiting so many parts of the world and establishing communication among the world faiths: Protestants, the Muslims and Jews.
“He was the only Pope to apologise to the world peoples for the mistakes committed by the Catholic Church over the centuries, against the Jews, Spanish inquisitions, etc. I direct that flags in Uganda fly at half-mast from today, April 3 2005, to the day of his Holiness’ burial.â€
Meanwhile, the Uganda Episcopal Conference yesterday announced that a book of condolences would be open at the Nunciature in Mbuya for the members of the diplomatic corps, government officials, cultural leaders and MPs.
A statement said there would be another book of condolences at the Cardinal’s residence in Rubaga for anyone who wishes to register condolences.
The books will be open from 10am to 3pm for three days starting today.
Ends