The late Archbishop of Uganda Orthodox Church Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga has been laid to rest at St. Nicholas Cathedral Namungoona. The Archbishop breathed his last on September 5, 2021 in Greece’s capital Athens where he had gone for a visit.
According to Reverend Father John Kibuuka Bbosa, the prelate succumbed to prostate cancer. “An autopsy of the late Lwanga as provided to the Church on Monday evening by the hospital where he died in Athens, confirmed the cause of his death,” Fr. Kibuuka said.
At the final send off, President Yoweri Museveni through Vice President Jessica Alupo eulogized the late Archbishop saying that his death has robbed the country. “His wise counsel on matters of governance and human rights will be missed,” Museveni said.
Vice-President, who was also the chief mourner, said President Museveni will at a later date lay a wreath on the burial site of the late Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga. She said the Government will tomorrow move a motion in Parliament to honour the late Orthodox leader for his contribution to the Church and to the socio-economic development of Uganda.
On behalf of Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), Archbishop of Church of Uganda Stephen Kazimba Mugalu said the passing of Archbishop Jonah Lwanga has left a very big gap in IRCU.
He said Lwanga was passionate about unity among the different religious denominations in Uganda, as well as his ‘invincible courage’ and being an ‘ardent supporter of the Uganda national dialogue’. “We will dearly miss him.”
In a condolence message delivered by Katikkiro Charles Mayiga, Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi eulogizes Archbishop Jonah Lwanga as a man who loved his culture and who was truthful.
“Archbishop Lwanga was consistent. You could not second guess him. You knew where he stood. He loved humanity from his deeds. While we are urged to love God, it is futile to love him, yet we don’t love humans who live with us. He was trusted,” Kabaka said.
The former presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine said Archbishop Lwanga spoke the truth even when the truth was dangerous.
“We are proud to have him in our generation. It is dangerous that we have lost outspoken religious leaders in a short time. It is upon us to carry on the legacy as we lay him to rest. We should stand for what is right,” Bobi Wine said.
Bobi Wine said It is disturbing that in less than a year, the country has lost many outspoken religious leaders, some of them in ways that have not been explained.