Nkoyoyo my mentor- Ntagali

The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Stanley Ntagali has said his predecessor, Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo, was also his mentor.

Archbishop Ntagali was speaking at the third requiem service at St. Phillip and Andrew's Cathedral, Mukono where Nkoyoyo served as Bishop from 1984 to 1995 when he was elected Archbishop.

Nkoyoyo, who served as archbishop of the Church of Uganda from 1995 to 2004, died on Friday aged 80 years.

While preaching at St. Phillip and Andrew's Cathedral, Mukono, Ntagali described the deceased archbishop as a man of wisdom.

"He was my mentor and I was blessed to serve under him as a provincial secretary and he was indeed a man of wisdom. Whenever he walked into my office, I always pulled out a note book to write his wise words," said Ntagali.

He added that Nkoyoyo was not only a church leader but a respected citizen of the country who contributed significantly to its development.

"He was a mentor, great leader, consultant, unifier and he has left a vibrant church," Ntagali.

Ntagali served under Nkoyoyo as Provincial Secretary from 2002 to 2004 when the former became Bishop of Masindi Kitara Diocese as the latter retired as archbishop.

Mukono diocesan bishop, James Ssebaggala, said that he met Nkoyoyo at 23 years after graduating as a surveyor and the late redirected him to religious studies at the then Bishop Tucker Theological School, now Uganda Christian University (UCU).

He said that Archbishop Nkoyoyo transformed Mukono immediately after starting his tenure as bishop and starting UCU.

Ssebaggala also described Nkoyoyo as wise and a role model who loved his church that he continued serving even after retiring as Archbishop.

The Catholic Bishop of Lugazi Diocese, Christopher Kakooza, said that he loved the proverbial sermons from Nkoyoyo that touched hearts of many.

Ruth Nkoyoyo, the widow, said that what strengthens her is that her husband of 52 years was saved and loved God.

Nkoyoyo's grandchildren Nantongo Sarah, Patience Nasanga, Kirstin Nkoyoyo and others described their grandfather as patient, kind, compassionate and very humble.

On behalf of the children, Isaac Mwesigwa Nkoyoyo said that Namugongo was very important to his father and that he hoped the construction of the museum would be finished soon.

He pleaded with Christians to support the family and the church whenever called upon to accomplish the work at Namugongo.

Archbishop Nkoyoyo is to be buried on Tuesday at Namugongo Anglican Martyrs Shrine near the museum which he has been working hard to complete. At this same venue, on June 3, 1969, Nkoyoyo was ordained a reverend beginning a journey that would take him to Mukono as a bishop in 1984 and Namirembe as archbishop in 1995. More than 48 years after his ordination, he will be laid to rest here.