The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Forum for Democratic Change-FDC political party has said it was saddened by the passing of Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga, the Archbishop of the Orthodox Church in Uganda. Lwanga, who has been battling cancer passed away yesterday at a hospital in Athens-Greece.
Speaking to the press today at FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi, Kampala, FDC deputy spokesperson John Kikonyogo said Lwanga has been part of a small crop of religious leaders who are not afraid of speaking out on matters that affect Ugandans. Lwanga has been an outspoken critic of the government, often lambasting it for human rights abuses and corruption.
Kikonyogo called upon the government to support Ugandans like herbalist David Ssenfuka to develop drugs for non-communicable diseases like cancer that continue to claim lives of prominent people. A number of prominent persons have publicly confessed to having taken Ssenfuka’s medicine and got relief from cancer and diabetes.
Writing on his Facebook page, former presidential candidate Kyagulanyi Robert Ssentamu said in the passing of Lwanga, Uganda has lost one of the last standing courageous religious leaders. “Very saddened by the passing of His Eminence Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga…who has been an outspoken critic of the injustice and bad governance in our country.
“Not one to sit by and watch as our country careened down the steep slope of dictatorship, Archbishop Jonah has been a consistent voice in pointing out the wrongs of those who hold us captive. Perhaps his most candid comment in recent times was when he urged Ugandans to pray for the collapse of Museveni’s regime, reasoning that only then shall we have peace and prosperity again,” Kyagulanyi wrote.
For his part, former FDC president Dr Kizza Besigye described Lwanga as a very courageous man of God. “A great moral voice and leader goes to be with the Lord. Metropolitan Lwanga has had the courage, confidence and moral activism consistent with a Man of God.
It’s worrying that such moral patriarchs are endangered, yet most needed in our Uganda today. Our heartfelt condolences go to the bereaved family, Uganda Orthodox Church, the Christian Community and all Ugandans,” Besigye said in a message posted on his Facebook timeline. The Orthodox Church whose headquarters are at Namungoona in Lubaga Division Kampala is yet to communicate the arrangements for Lwanga’s final send-off.
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