A Ugandan Anglican priest who in 1992 became the first African Christian leader to announce that he was HIV positive, was awarded the 26th annual Niwano Peace Prize in Tokyo.The Rev Canon Gideon Byamugisha was honoured by the Niwano Peace Foundation for his work in promoting Aids awareness in Africa.
The Primate of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai, Archbishop Makoto Uematsu accepted the award on behalf of Canon Byamugisha, who was advised against travel to Japan due to the H1N1 flu alert.
In selecting Canon Byamugisha as its 2009 honoree, the prize committee stated he had “turned personal suffering into a religious message of hope and courage and has matched it with constructive action," providing "inspiration and help to so many who have fallen victim to the HIV/AIDS pandemic."
Established in 1983 the Niwano Peace Prize honors individuals and organizations who have contributed to inter-religious understanding and cooperation, thereby furthering the cause of world peace, a statement from the committee said.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Source (RI)
SV (ED)