President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni met with Mama Maria Nyerere at State Lodge Nakasero on Friday. During their meeting, President Museveni lauded Mama Maria for initiating the idea of praying through the Uganda Martyrs to support the canonization of the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
“Our mother, Mama Maria Nyerere, you are most welcome. I’m very happy that you thought of this idea of praying through the Martyrs of Uganda for the canonization of our father, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, and it has brought us together,” President Museveni stated.
“Each year when you come, you see how many people turn up from all parts of Africa, and that was my vision. We, who are still alive, led by you, are still pushing the vision in different ways. This is another way of looking at African integration,” he added.
President Museveni also expressed his gratitude to God for granting Mama Maria good health and for enabling her to visit Uganda annually for this noble cause. “You are most welcome, and I support this effort,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of Mama Maria, Sr. Elidina Michael Ntandu thanked President Museveni for his warm reception of the Tanzanian people whenever they visit Uganda.
“On behalf of the people of Tanzania, we thank God for giving us the opportunity to be here with our beloved father, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni,” Sr. Elidina remarked. “We thank you for always supporting Mama Nyerere in the cause of the beatification of Mwalimu Nyerere. We pray that God grants you all that you wish for,” she added.
Mama Maria Nyerere attends the Nyerere Beatification Prayer Day at Namugongo Catholic Shrine every 1st of June, ahead of the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations on June 3.
On May 13, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI declared Nyerere a Servant of God, the first step toward his beatification and eventual canonization as a saint.
The former President of Tanzania, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, passed away on October 14, 1999, at the age of 77. Since 2009, the faithful have held Mass at Namugongo ahead of the Martyrs Day celebrations, with the congregation praying for Nyerere’s beatification. Nyerere’s family is always represented at these prayers by Mama Maria Nyerere.
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