Nyerere fit to be a saint â€" Museveni
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has supported the ongoing campaign in the Catholic Church to have former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere recognised as a saint.
By Raymond Baguma
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has supported the ongoing campaign in the Catholic Church to have former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere recognised as a saint.
The campaign to bestow sainthood on Nyerere began on January 26, 2006 when the Vatican accepted a request from the Bishop of Musoma in northern Tanzania to canonise the late leader. The Vatican then granted him the title of ‘Servant of God.’
Museveni yesterday praised Nyerere for uniting the different religious groups in Tanzania and advancing Swahili as a common language to unite the ethnically diverse country. Today, Tanzania is the most peaceful country in Africa with no civil wars, Museveni observed.
He was speaking during special prayers, held at Catholic Martyrs’ shrine in Namugongo, for the beatification of the late Mwalimu.
Mass was celebrated by the Archbishop of Kampala, Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, and Bishop Emeritus Edward Baharagate. Former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa was among the dignitaries present. The Nyerere family was led by the widow, Maria Gabriel Magige.
The family and many Tanzanians donned scarves with Kiswahili messages calling for Nyerere’s canonisation. They also wore uniform wrappers. The choir from Marian Faith Healing Centre in Dar-es-Salaam sang Kiswahili hymns.
After mass, Museveni narrated his first meeting with the former leader when he was still a student at Dar-es-Salaam University in 1968. “He was blessed with extraordinary wisdom and compassion for the oppressed. He loved freedom and unity for all people, and he was a fearless freedom fighter.â€
He said during the 1970s, Nyerere supported freedom movements in Vietnam, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Angola, Namibia as well as Uganda. Museveni also pointed out that Nyerere’s role was instrumental in the restoration of peace in Burundi.
“He was like the Ugandan martyrs who stood for truth against sin; even at the expense of their lives. I join those who are praying for the canonisation of Mwalimu as a saint. He was not only a freedom fighter, he was also a man of God.â€
Mkapa, who was Tanzania’s third President, praised the fact that Nyerere always remained humble. “I stayed with him from 1966 until his passing away. He was a leader of the independence struggle. He abhorred being worshiped. He knew he was human and lived like any other being.â€
Prayers for Nyerere’s canonisation, organised by the widow, have been conducted at the Namugongo shrine since 2007.
Hundreds of Tanzanian, Kenyan and Rwandan pilgrims are currently in the country to commemorate Uganda Martyrs’ Day, celebrated annually on June 3.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has supported the ongoing campaign in the Catholic Church to have former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere recognised as a saint.
The campaign to bestow sainthood on Nyerere began on January 26, 2006 when the Vatican accepted a request from the Bishop of Musoma in northern Tanzania to canonise the late leader. The Vatican then granted him the title of ‘Servant of God.’
Museveni yesterday praised Nyerere for uniting the different religious groups in Tanzania and advancing Swahili as a common language to unite the ethnically diverse country. Today, Tanzania is the most peaceful country in Africa with no civil wars, Museveni observed.
He was speaking during special prayers, held at Catholic Martyrs’ shrine in Namugongo, for the beatification of the late Mwalimu.
Mass was celebrated by the Archbishop of Kampala, Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, and Bishop Emeritus Edward Baharagate. Former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa was among the dignitaries present. The Nyerere family was led by the widow, Maria Gabriel Magige.
The family and many Tanzanians donned scarves with Kiswahili messages calling for Nyerere’s canonisation. They also wore uniform wrappers. The choir from Marian Faith Healing Centre in Dar-es-Salaam sang Kiswahili hymns.
After mass, Museveni narrated his first meeting with the former leader when he was still a student at Dar-es-Salaam University in 1968. “He was blessed with extraordinary wisdom and compassion for the oppressed. He loved freedom and unity for all people, and he was a fearless freedom fighter.â€
He said during the 1970s, Nyerere supported freedom movements in Vietnam, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Angola, Namibia as well as Uganda. Museveni also pointed out that Nyerere’s role was instrumental in the restoration of peace in Burundi.
“He was like the Ugandan martyrs who stood for truth against sin; even at the expense of their lives. I join those who are praying for the canonisation of Mwalimu as a saint. He was not only a freedom fighter, he was also a man of God.â€
Mkapa, who was Tanzania’s third President, praised the fact that Nyerere always remained humble. “I stayed with him from 1966 until his passing away. He was a leader of the independence struggle. He abhorred being worshiped. He knew he was human and lived like any other being.â€
Prayers for Nyerere’s canonisation, organised by the widow, have been conducted at the Namugongo shrine since 2007.
Hundreds of Tanzanian, Kenyan and Rwandan pilgrims are currently in the country to commemorate Uganda Martyrs’ Day, celebrated annually on June 3.