By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
MBARARA
Former Secretary General of the East African Community and seasoned opposition politician Rtd Col. Nuwe Amanya Mushega also known as Amanya Mushega has said that the late Paul K Bakyenga, Emeritus Archbishop of Mbarara was the pride of their village.
He was speaking at Emeritus Archbishop Bakyenga’s burial held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Nyamitanga Cathedral in Mbarara on Sunday. Bakyenga died on Tuesday 18th July, 2023 at Nsambya hospital in Kampala.
Amanya Mushega and the late Archbishop are renown childhood friends in the remote village of Bumbaire Igara in Bushenyi district. They duo grew up together in an extended family.
Recalling the old moments when Bakyenga became the Archbishop in 1999, Amanya Mushega said, “… he went and became a source of pride to our village.”
“As a family and the greater Bumbaire, we were always proud to producing the first Archbishop for the Catholics. He was not just an Archbishop for the Catholics, but for all of us irrespective of the faith. Nowonder, he promoted unity and diversity,” he added
According to Mushega, the late Archbishop did not practice religious sectarianism, he said their families practiced ecumenical prayers and when he became a Bishop and later Archbishop, he still engaged in joint prayers meant to promote the body of the whole church.
Mushega singled out the burial ceremony of his late father who was a staunch Church of Uganda christian could be buried by Archbishop Bakyenga a Catholic. He says the late Archbishop respected everybody’s faith.
[pdf-embedder url=”https://parrotsug.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Tribute-PRINT-NYAMITANGA.pdf” title=”Tribute PRINT NYAMITANGA”]
On another hand, lawyer Mushega hailed the deceased of being intolerant and analytical.
“In discussions with him, you would first think before saying any word because he was too analytical. You would not just speak for the sake of speaking,” he said
Mushega describe the death of Emeritus Archbishop Paul Kaamuza Bakyenga as a loss to his family, entire village and the nation.
