When you finally go to Namirembe Cathedral one of these days, amongst the tombstones that conceal many a great and honorable man is one that has the inscription: “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God – Mathew 5:9.” The man who lies under here has, this year, been interred for more 23 years.
He left behind a wife and seven children who are still here to tell the tale of a good man; a kind man – a passionate man of God – a man his friends and flock called Reverend John Edward Haroun Wilson.
He was not always a man of the cloth. Born on Christmas Day, 1922 to Edward John Wilson who, himself, had been the son of Sir George Wilson, District Commissioner of the then 19th Century Uganda British Protectorate, John was the eldest son to a father who had more than one wife and over 20 children.
Although his family did not put as much a premium as was necessary on on education, the young Wilson eventually ended up at Makerere University [then Makerere College] on his own accord; and there while living a life that many considered ‘merry,’ he adopted Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and conceptualized his life as a product of chance.
But all these things were, like the many men of the cloth before him, soon to change. John met the remarkable Mary Mukasa whose own family had outstanding figures in Uganda’s history. As the grandchild of the famous Hamu Mukasa, Sekibobo (Ssaza Chief) of Kyaggwe, and also Festo Manyangenda, Omugerere (Ssaza Chief) of Bugerere, Mary was able to bring John into the light and in June 1955, he converted into Christianity.
The journey Mary and John begun led them down many career paths and professions with John ending up as National Sales Manager for Caltex Oil [now trading as Chevron Texaco]. In 1969, John met Michael Cassidy, a South African missionary – and made an impression on him. In Anne Coomes’ book: African Harvest – The Captivating Story of Michael Cassidy and African Enterprise, Ms. Coomes says: ‘One of the most important additions to African Enterprise was John Wilson of Uganda, often described by Michael [Cassidy] as one of the best and most loyal friends I ever had in Africa. Certainly, he was key, along with Festo [Kivengere], in getting our East African teams up and running and keeping us all together.’
Then, John Wilson had established a reputation all over Uganda as a most unusual Christian businessman who spent more and more of his personal life preaching the word of God which prompted him to consider going full time into the Ministry. There were, however, concerns: The Wilsons had seven children who had to be fed and clothed and schooled; and Caltex afforded them the life they led.
In 1973, a series of events led Mary to push her husband deeper into the Ministry. Michael Cassidy had, for a few years, been working to set up the African Enterprise, currently a worldwide Christian missionary society with Festo Kivengere and his friend Zebuloni Kabaza. They had achieved considerable success and although there had never been a problem with his visits to Uganda, Mr. Cassidy’s passport said he was a Missionary. This posed a challenge during the Islam leaning Idi Amin regime [1971 – 1979]. That year, Michael, who had travelled with a Keith Jesson to meet Festo was denied entry into Uganda. He, however, after prayer and in what he called a ‘low blow’ managed to use his compelling ministry argument with the Christian immigration officer – and was allowed into the country and went on to meet with Festo, Zebuloni, Keith and John Wilson at the Caltex Offices the next day. This meeting was interrupted by the infamous Idi Amin security forces who, with John and Festo following them in fear for of their friend’s life, took Michael to the Department of Foreign affairs where he was declared a persona non grata.
Michael demanded that he be put on a flight to Nairobi, Kenya – and because one was available only the next day, this allowed him another opportunity to meet with the African Enterprise board that night. Chaired by Archbishop Erica Sabiti, the Board resolved a great many African Enterprise issues and most of all, gave John inkling into getting more involved in the Ministry.
Then Mary Wilson is quoted as having said: ‘…if Amin can put people like Michael out of Uganda, then I believe people like you should move fulltime into the Lord’s work.’
A few months later, John was appointed African Enterprise’s Deputy Regional Team Leader under Bishop Kivengere; and in 1974 John and his family moved to the United States where he pursued and graduated with a Masters degree in Missiology from the Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. In 1975, he started working in different countries around the world – especially in Africa – working to bring peace and Christianity to many people and was awarded The St. Andrew’s Cross by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and made a Companion of the Cross of Nails at Coventry Cathedral.
Between then and 1986, John worked in different capacities: as Coordinator of the Pan African Christian Leadership Assembly; on the Relief, Education and Training for Ugandan Refugee Now – RETURN program; the Greater Kampala Mission, and the MECLA, Middle East Christian Leadership Assembly.
The Rev. John Edward Haroun Wilson, was 64 when he was gunned down on March 16, 1986. He died trying to bring peace to different warring factions that hard torn Uganda asunder; and the epitaph on his gravestone is seemingly right and fitting. John, in preparing for his future like every man should, judged for himself between conflicting vague probabilities and chose to walk in the light. Even Charles Darwin, under these circumstances would nod and say that this life was lived well indeed.
Article by UNAA Times | Online
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