President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday received and held
discussions with Tanzania’s former First Lady, Mama Maria Nyerere at
State Lodge-Nakasero.

During the meeting, the President appreciated Mama Maria for attending
Nyerere Beatification Prayer Day at Namugongo Catholic Shrine which
takes place every year on 1st June.
Mama Maria Nyerere who champions the beatification cause has made it a
point to come to Namugongo every year, invoking the intercession of the
Ugandan Martyrs who were canonised as saints by the Catholic Church in
1964.
The former First Lady attended the meeting along with her delegation and a
number of issues concerning mutual interests were discussed.
The former President of Tanzania Mwalimu Julius Nyerere who died on
14th October 1999 at 77 years of age, passed the first step to sainthood
when he was declared a servant of God in 2006.
Since 2009, the faithful have held the Mass at Namugongo a day ahead of
the Martyrs Day celebrations, with the congregation praying for the
beatification cause of Nyerere.
Pilgrims trek from Tanzania to honour this day. Nyerere’s family is always
represented in such prayers by Mama Maria Nyerere.