LOP mourns Archbishop Lwanga

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Mathias Mpuuga has paid tribute to the late Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga, the Archbishop of the Orthodox Church in Uganda who died in Athens, Greece on Sunday.

The 76-year-old prelate reportedly died of prostate cancer.

Addressing mourners during an evening prayer service at St. Nicolas Cathedral Namungoona, a Kampala suburb, Mpuuga described the late archbishop as a man who led an iconic life, who never shied away from speaking out on injustices.

“He was a man of measured attributes because in all the tribulations we have gone through, we have more often than not, missed on people of courage that can speak reality and reason to power,” Mpuuga said adding that, ‘he was one of the very few who never preached water and drunk wine. He stood by his every word on justice and freedoms’.

“We appreciate him because when the country needed leadership on very dicey societal matters; he was never afraid of coming out and offer that guidance. We thank God for according us the opportunity to live in our midst with a man of such values and attributes,” he added.

The Leader of the Opposition signs the condolence book.

After the church service, the Opposition leader signed a condolence book and later joined a planning meeting for the Archbishop’s funeral where the Minister of Information and National Guidance, Chris Baryomunsi announced that the he will be accorded a state funeral.

The LOP was accompanied by the Shadow Minister of Information and Anti-Corruption, Joyce Bagala Ntwatwa and that of Kampala Metropolitan Affairs, Abubaker Kawalya.

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SOURCE: UGANDA PARLIAMENT MEDIA