President Yoweri Museveni has described former President of Tanzania, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere as the most important personality as far as the unity of Africa is concerned.
The President made the remarks Saturday during the annual Julius Kambarage Nyerere Day commemorative Mass at Namugongo Catholic Martyrs’ Shrine to pray for the beautification and canonization of the late Julius Nyerere to sainthood.
Kampala Archdiocesan Vicar General, Monsignor Charles Kasibante, led the Mass which was graced by 500 pilgrims from Tanzania led by Maama Maria Nyerere, widow of Nyerere.
President Museveni thanked Ugandans for recognising the Nyerere Day in such big numbers and for joining Tanzanian pilgrims led Mrs. Nyerere and the family members.
He commended Mrs Nyerere and her family’s initiative to link other pilgrims from Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Nigeria and beyond to come and pray for the cause of Nyerere’s sainthood.
He noted that the pilgrimage is a promotion of oneness of the regional countries and Africa as a whole.
The President observed that one cannot claim to be modern spiritually yet remain traditionally and economically poor as this would undermine one’s effort and potential to realize development.
The Tanzanian High Commissioner to Uganda, Aziz Ponary Mlima said President Nyerere was a Pan-Africanist who struggled for humanity, liberation, democracy, stability and independence of African countries and beyond.
Professor Mark Mwandotsya from Tanzania thanked President Museveni and all Ugandans who worked with the late Nyerere to shape the his political legacy.
The Nyerere family commended President Museveni for supporting them and ensuring that the Nyerere Day and prayers for his beatification and canonisation for the last two decades are recognised.
Mgr. Kasibante commended Government for ensuring security around Namugongo and supporting Church development projects.
The school community of Stella Maris College, Nsuube Nkokonjeru in Buikwe District where Maama Maria Nyerere studied, initiated the construction of the school library to be named Maama Maria Nyerere.
