President Yoweri Museveni has pledged to support in fulfilling what many have said was the last wish of retired Archbishop Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo by completing the Uganda martyrs’ museum at Namugongo.
The President eulogized the former Archbishop of the Church of Uganda as a leader who accomplished so much and fought a good fight. He said that unlike some people, the late evangelist died when he was still fighting for a good cause – the museum.
“Nkyoyoyo has run a good race, fought a good fight and we should adopt his spirit of optimism not pessimism. What matters is what you have done while you live. Some people die from bars but the Archbishop died when he was thinking about Namugongo,” the President told mourners during a requiem service for the late Nkoyoyo held at All Saints Church Nakasero on Sunday.
Nkoyoyo died Friday morning at Kampala hospital due to pneumonia. He had battled throat cancer since 2016 and was admitted in the U.K where he spent six months.
Museveni said that Nkoyoyo used his time on earth to do good for both God and fellow man.
“I have heard about how he was passionate about building the museum at Namugongo. I will meet Archbishop, Stanley Ntagali and ask what is needed and then we can support as we always do,” the President promised.
Hundreds of people including Bishops, Archdeacons, heads of church ministries and representatives from the clergy and government attended the service.
What they said about Nkoyoyo
Many described Nkoyoyo as having been humble, a champion of the youth ministry and a uniting force for the church. Notable among the achievements he was praised for was his vigorous mobilization for the construction of the Church House in Kampala and the expansion of All Saints church.
Many of Nkyoyoyo’s fellow clergy lauded him for his role in settling disputes in the church and his firm stand against liberal theories like homosexuality.
Family
The widow to the deceased, Ruth Nkoyoyo celebrated Archbishop Nkoyoyo as having been very ambitious even at his weakest point.
“We are not here to mourn but to celebrate the life of my friend. He has done his service and has gone home to the Lord. So, we should be happy,” the widow said in her eulogy.
“He had a lot of plans some of which seemed impossible but he trusted God to help him accomplish them. The burden of completing Namugongo museum was weighing heavy on him even at the time he died.”
She thanked President Museveni, family friends and the entire country for the support they rendered at the time when Nkoyoyo needed medical treatment abroad.
Nkoyoyo’s children, represented by Isaac Nkoyoyo paid tribute to their “strong” and “wise” father whose other attributes they said included, humor, generosity, strictness, humility and big faith.
“He accepted our vulnerability and we enjoyed his love. He was the master teacher of all of us. He connected with everyone he met, regardless of status and cared for vulnerable children,” Isaac said.
Former Archbishop, Henry Luke Orombi
The sermon was delivered by former Archbishop, Orombi who succeeded Nkoyo after his tenure in 2004.
He said his “mentor”, Nkoyoyo had lived a life which was testimony of the love of God and that he was a humble and strong nationalist who related to everybody.
“Each time he spoke, he reminded us [church] of our ineficiencies and we woke up from slumber,” Orombi said.
Orombi centred on the life and death of Jesus Christ to pass on a message of hope to the mourners whom he reminded of the life of rest after death.
“In John chapter 14, Jesus assured his disciples that ‘My father’s house has many rooms’ and that they were not homeless orphans because he was going to prepare places for them,” Archbishop Orombi said.
He said; “Nkoyoyo has run his race and it was his time to go. He’s now rocking in the blossom of God”.
The body of Retired Archbishop Nkoyoyo will on Tuesday be laid to rest at Namugongo Martyrs’ Shrine.
One evening I drove the late Archbishop to his hotel, Rest Corner Hotel. The gate was closed and the gate keeper abcent. As I hooted, the late opened the car door, went and opened the gate. His only comment was that the gate keeper was probably tired! I was humbled.