The Church of Uganda on Tuesday commemorated the 140th anniversary of the martyrdom of Bishop James Hannington, who was killed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda in 1885.
Bishop Hannington, an English Anglican missionary and the first Bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa, was martyred on October 29, 1885, along with his companions as he attempted to open a new route to Uganda.
He is remembered for his courageous evangelism and his final words of faith and forgiveness.
This year’s commemoration drew hundreds of pilgrims from across the country, alongside government officials and clergy.
The main celebrant at the service was the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu.
During the event, Bishop Frank Tibagendeka, who also serves as the LC V Chairperson of Mayuge District, urged the government to consider dividing Mayuge District, citing the growing population that continues to strain service delivery.
“Mayuge has grown in both size and population. Dividing the district will help improve service delivery and governance,” Bishop Tibagendeka said.
The Third Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Rukia Isanga Nakadama, who attended the event, reminded the government to fulfill promises made during a similar visit in 2022.
Delivering his message, Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu appealed to the government to expedite the process of gazetting the commemoration day as a public holiday, noting that discussions on the matter have taken too long.
“There has been a proposal for this day to be gazetted as a public holiday in remembrance of this first martyr, and there have been a lot of discussions. I am grateful that progress has been made, but my prayer is that it will finally be completed,” Archbishop Kaziimba said.
The Archbishop also called for tolerance, peace, and unity during the current political season, urging Ugandans to respect one another as key stakeholders in shaping the country’s future.
Representing President Museveni as the Guest of Honour, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja assured the congregation that the government is already working on formalizing the commemoration day as a public holiday.
“In 2022, Cabinet declared October 29 as James Hannington Day to be commemorated as a national day. Now, the process of making it a public holiday is ongoing in the Ministry of Public Service, and I promise that this will be done,” Nabbanja said.
In a message delivered on behalf of the President, Museveni encouraged Ugandans to actively participate in development initiatives aimed at fostering economic empowerment and self-reliance.
He also urged citizens to embrace the spirit of patriotism and nation-building.
The commemoration concluded with prayers and hymns celebrating Bishop Hannington’s life and legacy, as the Church reaffirmed its commitment to spreading the Gospel and promoting unity across the nation.