Retired Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi has described his predecessor, the Most Reverend Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo, as a man who lived a testimony of the saving hand of God and was never embarrassed to say he was saved.
Archbishop Orombi was preaching at All Saints Cathedral, Nakasero during the requiem service for Archbishop Nkoyoyo who died on Friday aged 80 years.
While summing up his sermon, Orombi said Nkoyoyo lived a life of testimony, passion, stewardship, humility and nationalism. Orombi took over from Nkoyoyo as archbishop of the Church of Uganda in 2004.
Nkoyoyo died from pneumonia at Kampala Hospital where he had been undergoing treatment. In early 2017, Archbishop Nkoyoyo underwent successful treatment for cancer in the United Kingdom.
The Assistant Bishop of Kampala, Hannington Mutebi, described the late Nkoyoyo as a consummate preacher and humble servant.
“His seniority neither encumbered him nor puffed him up. Even though he made a major contribution to the church, he was modest about his role,” said Bishop Mutebi.
Bishop Mutebi who served under Nkoyoyo as a chaplain noted that he had a far-reaching impact on his life and ministry.
“His hard work prompted by faith and love taught me to commit myself wholeheartedly to undertaking tasks. I am proud to have been his teammate,” said Bishop Mutebi.
President Yoweri Museveni and wife Janet were among the mourners who filled up All Saints Cathedral to eulogise a man who has made a big contribution to the church over the past 50 years.
Museveni pledged to extend more support towards the completion of Namugongo Anglican Martyrs Shrine.
The late Nkoyoyo spearheaded the construction of the yet to be completed Museum at Namugongo and according to his family, he has been worried about the work at the site even on his death bed.
His wife Ruth Nkoyoyo told mourners that on Thursday, just a day before he died at Kampala Hospital, Archbishop Nkoyoyo made calls asking about the work at the museum.
“He loved Namugongo, even earlier on his sick bed in the United Kingdom he had a burden and kept calling back home to inquire about the museum,” Ruth Nkoyoyo said.
Earlier, Archbishop Nkoyoyo’s eldest son, Isaac Nkoyoyo, also pleaded with President Museveni to help with the completion of the museum.
“Our father had a passion for the museum. He was desperate to have the project finished and he even wanted to come and see you,” Isaac Nkoyoyo told Museveni in Church.
He also informed the President that the late archbishop was taking care of 300 children, 75 of them blind.
Isaac Nkoyoyo asked the President to extend support to the family with a view of taking care of the children’s needs.
Museveni said he would meet Archbishop Stanley Ntagali to find out what is needed for the completion of the Namugongo Museum and extend support.
He further pledged to get in contact with Ruth Nkoyoyo to get details of the orphanage and extend support as well.
He attended Mpenja Primary School in Gomba before moving to Aggrey Memorial School and then Mityana Junior Secondary.
Nkoyoyo dropped out of school after completing Junior Secondary School and became an auto mechanic.
In 1959, while attending a youth camp at Ndoddo Church in Gomba, the 21-year-old Nkoyoyo got saved.
On May 1, 1965 Nkoyoyo married Ruth Nalweyiso at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe. Together, they had five children – Isaac, Naomi, Martin (deceased), Margret and Julius.
Nkoyoyo would soon give up his work in the garage for full-time ministry. Beginning as a Church Teacher, he enrolled for ordination training course, thus starting the journey that would see him become a priest in 1969, a bishop in 1983 and archbishop in 1995.
In 2015 when the couple celebrated 50 years in marriage, Ruth talked of love and trust as the bedrock of their long marriage. “He loved me unconditionally, and, because of this, I found it very easy to love him back,” she said.
Nkoyoyo is to be buried on Tuesday at Namugongo Anglican Martyrs Shrine near the museum which he has been working hard to complete.
