President Yoweri Museveni on Monday joined pilgrims in a visit to the martyrdom site of Bishop James Hannington who was murdered in 1885.
According to Museveni, Bishop Hannington was killed when Kabaka Mwanga’s guards misinterpreted his orders. While the Kabaka ordered for the release (Okuta) of the Bishop, the guards thought he meant killing (Okutta) him.
While speaking to pilgrims on Monday, Mr. Museveni pledged that in a coordinated action between government and the Church of Uganda, the site which is presently in Mayuge district shall be developed and a public Holiday in his honor considered.
Also present at the event were Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Stanley Ntagali who welcomed the president, speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, and leader of Opposition in Parliament Betty Aol.
The late Bishopwas killed in Kyando Mayuge district 130 years ago. The president toured his cave which acted as a library that was next to the martyrdom site. Several pilgrims turned up to commemorate the day, 29th October when he was murdered.
The president laid a foundation stone for the Hannington Resort that is being built in his honor.
About Bishop Hannington;
He was the first Anglican Bishop of East Africa. Bishop Hannington became Uganda’s first Martyr on 29th October 1985. He was killed along with his 48 helpers at Kyando, Mayuge district in Eastern Uganda.
At the time of his capture, Bishop Hannington had 50 helpers, 48 of them were slain with him but 2 managed to escape, hid in the bush and later came back to pick his body and moved it back to Kenya. With a plan to return him to England failing, the two men decided to behead his rotting body and delivered only his head.
His body was then buried in Mumais Kenya and later exhumed in 1890, brought back to Kampala and buried at Namirembe Cathedral. He died at the age of 38. At the time of his death, the Bishop and his 48 porters had been in captivity for 8 days.
When Kabaka Mwanga II ordered for his release, the guards instead heard kill and pierced him in both sides. His last words to the kabaka were; “Go, tell Mwanga I have purchased the road to Uganda with my blood.”
His death was followed by that of other Ugandan Martyrs starting in 1886.