The government has eulogized the late Archbishop of the Orthodox Church, Jonah Lwanga, describing him as a man who spoke the truth to power even against them sometimes.
This was revealed as different leaders joined the Orthodox Church in Uganda and mourners at St. Nicholas’ Church, Namungoona to pray for the late Archbishop.
Sunday was the start of the official government send-off of the fallen Archbishop who died early this month in Greece.
The Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka who represented the government noted that the government recognises the role played by the late although he has been the critique of the government.
“The archbishop has at times been a fervent critic of the NRM government and he has been respected for that and what has been good out of it has been taken and what the government doesn’t agree with has been dropped but such was his right and that is what the government respects,” he said.
“And that is why the government is here and has been here and will remain here with the church because for the truth, we want to hear the truth,”
The Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago said the late emphasized to him the aureate homily of St. John Chrisestom about having a mouth of gold.
He asked fellow leaders to emulate Lwanga by walking the talk and ensure that the social contract they make with the people while seeking their mandate should only be augmented after taking oath.
Archbishop Jonah Lwanga was a cleric who used to speak truth to power, he was a fervent advocate of rule of law, equity, fairness and social justice.
The Lord Mayor committed that the institution he heads will immortalize roads in memory of both Lwanga and the late Archbishop Theodore Nankyama as per the existing KCCA guidelines.
Lwanga died on September 5, 2021 in Greece where he had been flown for treatment for prostate cancer.
According to the burial program announced earlier last week, the burial will take place at the Namungoona cathedral grounds.
The government recently promised to meet all the funeral and burial expenses for the late Archbishop Jonah Lwanga.
President Museveni recently appointed the Vice President, Jessica Alupo to oversee the burial preparations.