Busia– The history of Budimo Church is intertwined with the story of Bishop-Martyr James Hannington, who was killed for his faith at Kyando, Bunya, Busoga (in present-day Mayuge District).
Kyando is close to 100 km from Budimo, and has a story whose date of 1885 is exactly 140 years ago this last month of October.
After his martyrdom at Kyando, and his secret burial there in October 1885, Hannington’s remains were exhumed (the first time), and carried off by his two Samia comrades and assistant-in-ministry namely: Ochola, from Lunya (in present-day Uganda); and Osore, from Odiado (in present-day Kenya).
Those two (assisted by Otsyalo, a fellow Luyia from Mumias), intended to carry Hannington’s remains all the way to Mombasa for shipment back to England: Hannington’s motherland.
In the end, Hannington was buried at Mumias (second burial); re-exhumed (the second time); and finally, re-buried at Namirembe Cathedral (Hannington’s third burial!).
At Budimo, the funeral team stopped for refreshment at the gate of the old Samia fortress (Olukoba).
The team was allowed to access the homestead for refreshment and rest, not so Hannington’s corpse, as it was total taboo among the Samia to allow the “alien” dead into one’s homestead and so, to preserve intact the body, Ochola and Osore hoisted aloft Hannington’s remains into the branches of the tall Mutaabi Tree, standing right there, next to the gate of the Olukoba.
Atop the serene tree, Hannington rested for three-to-four days, safe and secure from the hungry marauding lions and hyenas prowling down below at the base of that tree, and all around the great jungle surrounding the Olukoba fortress.
140 years later, at the fortress, the Archbishop of Church of Uganda, The Most Rev Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu today led Service assisted by Bishop Samuel Bogere Egesa of Bukedi Diocese and attended by Archbishop Dr. Emmanuel Obbo of the Catholic Archdiocese of Tororo and other faith leaders.
Rt Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs was the Chief Guest.
Earlier in the day before the Service, Archbishop Kaziimba visited Buwerero where Bishop Hannington had his last meeting with Chief Lunyoro a few days to his murder. Buwerero is a few kilometers from Budimo.
Canon Justice James Ogoola the former Principal Judge of Uganda and now the Chancellor of Bukedi Diocese Deputy Provincial Chancellor is the vision bearer and principle financier of the existing developments at both sites.
Archbishop Kaziimba called upon the government to consider developing Buwerero, Budimo and Kyando into international religious tourism sites like Namugongo.
At Budimo, he laid a foundation stone for the construction of a modern Sanctuary, Bishop Hannington Budimo Parish Headquarters and Archbishop Kaziimba Mugalu Pavilion.
”We must have a bigger Church that befits this place to accommodate. It should be one of the religious tourism sites in this country. I will bring all Bishops to visit this place to support our advocacy for development of this and other religious tourism sites.” Archbishop Kaziimba said.
Archbishop Dr. Emmanuel Obbo of Tororo Catholic Archdiocese commended the ecumenism and pledged commitment towards the advocacy for the development of Budimo.
”This is my third time here and I am not about to stop coming here. Very many Catholics come here. We must join hands to see this place transformed.” Archbishop Obbo said.
The Chief Guest, Rt Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga commended Justice Canon James Ogoola for his relentless advocacy investing his own resources to develop Budimo and called upon Church of Uganda and other partners to double the advocacy efforts to push the government to develop the religious tourism sites.
She revealed that the government is working hard to establish alternative border sites to decongest Busia Malaba Border Posts for ease of international trade.
