Let’s protect church land – Archbishop Kaziimba

Hoima, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Archbishop of the Province of the Church of Uganda Dr Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu has raised concern over the massive land grabbing and encroachment on Church land across the country.

Dr Kaziimba says that a chunk of the Church land has been encroached on because most of the churches have not secured titles for it. He calls for government intervention to protect the land that is under threat by ensuring that it is titled.

He was presiding over the golden jubilee celebration for Bunyoro Kitara Diocese in Hoima on Sunday and tasked religious leaders to ensure that they jealously guard the boundaries of church land in order not to be encroached on by unscrupulous individuals.

He tasked Ugandans and the church to productively utilize their land for income generation to boost their well-being and rallied churches to be self-reliant by establishing income-generating projects in order to stop soliciting support from outside the country.

Dr Kaziimba also challenged religious leaders to mobilise Christians, especially the youth to tap into opportunities that will accrue from the oil discovery in the Albertine Graben adding that residents should not just sit and expect money in their pockets. He tasked the government to ensure that the oil benefits should get youth out of unemployment.

At the same function, President Yoweri Museveni said that the 50 years of the diocese is a milestone to showcase growth, courage, endurance, steadfastness and dedication to serving God. Museveni says the Church in Uganda is credited for its great contribution to the provision of socio-economic services such as health, education, works of charity, poverty alleviation and income generating projects, relief services, and peacebuilding initiative efforts among others.

Museveni says it is difficult to divorce religious institutions from social sector service delivery and development and that this makes the work of the Church formidable in the development process of the country. His speech was read by Prime Minister Robina Nabbanja.

He appealed to the Church to continue sowing the seeds of love, unity, discipline, sacrifice, hard work, integrity and patriotism among the people. Museveni also challenged the  Church to mobilize citizens to get rid of poverty from their homes by utilizing the available land for commercial farming.

Museveni contributed 200 million Shillings towards the completion of the Bishop’s house and the establishment of the Diocese’s Radio station.

Rt.Rev. Samuel Kahuma, the Bishop of Bunyoro Kitara diocese said that during the 50 years, they have made tremendous development including giving birth to Masindi Kitara Diocese, increasing the number of parishes from 15 to 86 and the Clergy from 16 to 150.

Bunyoro Kitara diocese was carved out of the Rwenzori diocese in 1972. Its first Bishop was the late Yustus Ruhindi.

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IRN