Nigerian bishop to lead Anglican prayers
Archbishop Kwashi of Josi State in Nigeria delivers a sermon recently. Courtesy PHOTO
KAMPALA. A Nigerian archbishop whose church has suffered the wrath of the Islamist terror group Boko Haram will lead today’s Martyrs Day celebrations at the Protestant Shrine at Nakiyanga, Namugongo.
Dr Benjamin Kwashi, the archbishop of Jos State in Central Nigeria, has in the past few years witnessed religious persecution from the Boko Haram militants and has received death threats.
In 2006, hoping to murder Archbishop Kwashi, Boko Haram militants broke into his home and when they did not find him, they brutally assaulted his wife Gloria and other members of his household.
Archbishop Kwashi is perhaps a modern day embodiment of religious persecution and that is the reason why the Church of Uganda chose him to lead the celebrations of Uganda Martyrs.
The celebrations
Church of Uganda activities organised by the Kampala Diocese started on May 30 with the inaugural annual day for children to celebrate Uganda Martyrs’ Day. More than 2,000 children participated in the event.
More celebrations continued on Tuesday with an overnight vigil involving preaching, singing and dancing. There will be a procession starting at 9am today (Wednesday), which will be followed by the main service starting at 10am.
The Archbishop of Church of Uganda Stanley Natagali will be the chief celebrant at the commemoration.
President Museveni is expected to attend according to Canon John Awodi, the vice chairperson of the celebration organising committee.
The main event is expected to end by 1pm followed by other festivities. The theme of this year’s celebrations is, “Faithful to the end…” drawn from the book of Revelation Chapter 2 Verse 10.
In his message to the pilgrims, Archbishop Ntagali appealed to Christians not to see the day as just a pilgrimage, but to reflect on its importance.
“It ought to be a moment of self-renewal, re-commitment and reflection of the great journey that our predecessors walked and that we may follow suit,” Archbishop Ntangali said.
Can Awodi also emphasised the need for Ugandans to commit to their faith like the martyrs did.
“These young people died for their faith. Christianity had not had deep roots in Uganda but they were willing to die. Christianity has been in Uganda for more than 100 years but corruption, wickedness and vices such as homosexuality are horrifying,” Can Awodi said.
