The chairperson of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Bishop Anthony Zziwa, has paid tribute to fallen priest, Bro. Fr. Anatoli Wasswa, praised the deceased for his work in fighting witchcraft.
Bishop Anthony was speaking moments before Anatoli was laid to rest on Monday. He urged all people to emulate him.
Hundreds of people thronged Kiteredde Catholic parish in Kyotera district at Banakaloori Brothers’ Mission to pay their last respects to the cleric who passed on at 96.
He was the most famous member of the Catholic Banakarooli Brothers based at Kiteredde, Rakai District. He became a Brother in 1947 and an ordained priest in 1977 hence the title Brother/Father.
His fame is based on the fact that he was the first religious person of the Catholic congregation openly practicing African Traditional herbal medicine.
He was a Brother/Priest at the same time an African Traditional herbalist, locally known as omusawo Muganda.
NUP President Bobi Wine who attended the burial, paid tribute to “his remaining true to and honouring our African tradition — despite being a religious leader — which many Africans mistake for witchcraft.”
READ ALSO: Father Anatoli Wasswa who championed use of traditional medicine dies at 96
He will be remembered for having effectively detached traditional herbal medicine from witch-craft. He carried out research after being appointed in 1981 by the Catholic Church to spearhead the fight against witch-craft which was combining herbal medicine with spirit worship (okusamira).
