Kaziimba to Government - Clergy Are Essential Workers

From Uganda-

Church of Uganda Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba has asked government to recognise the clergy as essential workers and allow them to perform their spiritual duties during the lockdown.

In his pastoral letter to bishops and clergy, Archbishop Kaziimba yesterday said for many Ugandans, the impact of lockdown has been much harder than the coronavirus pandemic itself, and urged church leaders to continue offering pastoral guidance to Christians.

"The need has increased because of the fear and uncertainty many are experiencing. I call upon government to recognise the clergy and lay readers as "essential employees," to provide psycho-social services to Ugandans," the Archbishop said.

More here-

https://allafrica.com/stories/202005060604.html

Time to ordain women bishops in the Church of Uganda

From Uganda-

We give glory to God for Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, the new Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, and former Archbishop Stanley Ntagali, whom we hope to see continuing his work of evangelism. 

Archbishop Kaziimba’s to-do-list must be a very long one. What with the spiritual coldness and moral rot that have the country in their grip! Human rights abuses; grand corruption that has become the country’s tradition; commercialisation of Jesus Christ’s name; State capture of the Church; and the urgency of cross-generational communication to attract the youth to the Church. These are some of the challenges that will keep Kaziimba awake at night.

To this list, I add election of women bishops, an equally important item that should be central to his legacy when he retires in 2027. I am aware of the passions that inform the worldwide debate on this subject. Many leading clergy in the Anglican Communion are strongly opposed to ordination of women to the priesthood. Among these opponents is Dr Foley Beach, the Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America, who was the main preacher at Dr Kaziimba’s enthronement at Namirembe Cathedral two days ago. 

More here-

https://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/columnists/MuniiniMulera/Time-to-ordain-women-bishops-Church-of-Uganda/878676-5477348-punw43/index.html

President Museveni Receives Archbishop of Canterbury

From Uganda-

President Yoweri Museveni has welcomed to Uganda the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Justin Portal Welby, and Primate of all England as well as Head of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, Works and Transport Minister, Gen. Katumba Wamala and outgoing Church of Uganda Archbishop, Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali, among others, attended the meeting that took place Friday at State House, Entebbe.

“Thank you for accepting my invitation. There is the corona disease that has attacked us. On the world scene, a total of 80,000 people have been infected and 2,000 of these have died. I appeal to the health officers to prevent the disease. We shall continue checking at the airport,” said the President who was referring to the act of not shaking hands with his visitors because of the threat of the Coronavirus.

More here-

 https://kampalapost.com/content/president-museveni-receives-archbishop-canterbury

Eleven Archbishops to attend Kazimba Mugalu’s enthronement

From Uganda-

The Organizing Committee for the enthronement of Dr. Steven Kazimba Mugalu as the 9th Archbishop of the Church of Uganda has deficit of Shillings 350 million, URN has learnt.

The Committee Chairperson Ruth Nankabirwa, says that they so far realised Shillings 782 million of the estimated budget of Shillings 1.16 billion.

Part of the money according to the Committee will be used to purchase a vehicle for the Archbishop valued at Shillings 400 million, the renovation of the Archbishop’s residence in Namirembe Shillings 280 million, purchase of chairs for Archbishop, Bishop and retired Bishops Shillings 18 million and the beautification of cathedral gardens Shillings 23 million among other expenditures.

Asked why the Church is purchasing a new vehicle for the Archbishop instead of inheriting the one currently used by the outgoing Archbishop Stanley Ntagali, Sadiiki Adams, the Communications Officer at the CoU Provincial Secretariat told URN that the Archbishop Ntagali has two official cars and all these are to be retained by the church whose Provincial Assembly Standing Committee will determine their future use.

He defended the purchase of the new car, saying the old ones cannot effectively be used by the new Archbishop to carry out his pastoral work throughout the Province and that would be left for emergency purposes.  eanwhile 11 Archbishops from different countries have confirmed attendance of Kazimba’s enthronement scheduled for March 1, 2020 at St Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe.

More here-

https://www.independent.co.ug/eleven-archbishops-to-attend-kazimba-mugalus-enthronement/

Anglican reverend arraigned in court over faking kidnap

From Uganda-

An Anglican reverend who is accused of faking his own kidnap has been arraigned in court and charged.

Rev Isaac Mwesigwa appeared at Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s court on Friday and was charged with giving false information to a public officer.

He was arrested on Thursday by CID officers in Kampala after police obtained CCTV footage showing that he had exited his car without any attack from anyone, contrary to what he had told police earlier. 

Rev Mwesigwa was found in Soroti District on February 12, three days after he went missing. He told police that he had been kidnapped by armed men on his way to deliver his research work at Uganda Christian University (UCU), Mukono.

In court, Rev Mwesigwa denied the charges and asked to be released on bail.

More here-

https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Anglican-reverend-arraigned-court-faking-kidnap/688334-5464108-1ix3tdz/index.html

Archbishop Kaziimba faces uphill task to revamp Anglican church

From Uganda-


When the House of Bishops convened on August  28, 2019 to elect the ninth Archbishop of the Province of Church of the Uganda (COU), one indeed felt most happy that Bishop Kaziimba of Mityana diocese, had emerged best-suited for the role.

We trust that in Kazimba, the province has received a non-worldly chief shepherd equipped to offer the much-desired leadership, to inspire afresh the spirit of Anglicanism among its youth, especially to refocus the administration of both its affairs and programmes so as to inspire its holistic growth across the entire province, and not just some sections of it.

The archbishop-elect comes at a time when the COU lacks a sound political theology necessary to counter the intrigues of Uganda’s secular politics. In fact, his immediate predecessor has several times hushed critics who resolutely dared him to discharge his ‘political’ mandate.  

More here-

https://observer.ug/viewpoint/63575-archbishop-kaziimba-faces-an-uphill-task-to-revamp-anglican-church

Thousands flock to Mucwini to commemorate Luwum Day

From Uganda-

Thousands of Christians from across the country yesterday attended celebrations in memory of Church of Uganda’s first archbishop, the late Janani Luwum.

About 9:30am, bishops walked down from St Paul’s Church of Uganda in a procession to take their seats at the altar prepared on the ceremonial grounds in Mucwini Sub-county, Kitgum District.

The colourful function was animated by ululation and songs by Christians. A combination of members from St Janani Luwum Parish, Kitgum Town, Christ Church Gulu, and All Saints Church formed the choir.

February 16, is gazetted nationally to remember Luwum who was brutally murdered by Idi Amin’s regime in 1977.

More here-

https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Thousands-flock-Mucwini-Luwum-Day-Kitgum-Ntagali/688334-5459078-3dyy5p/

Church App Helps Protect Against Human Trafficking

From Uganda-

A new mobile app has been launched by the Church of Uganda to help young people avoid falling into human trafficking when they seek work abroad.

The new app is called Just Good Work and was developed by clergyman Paul Davis.

Archbishop Stanley Ntagali says high levels of unemployment in Uganda had created desperate tendencies among some young people, tempting them to seek undefined job opportunities.
The Archbishop told Anglican News the app will give Ugandans critical information on working abroad in their own language.

Developer Paul Davis says the app was created primarily to act as a tool for information, pastoral care, prayer, teaching, and community empowerment.

More here-

https://vision.org.au/radio/news/church-app-helps-protect-against-human-trafficking/

Bishop decries fraudulent clerics

From Uganda-

Bishop of Soroti Diocese Hosea Odong has criticised what he called the extortionist behaviour among fellow bishops who fleece their flock to live a luxury life.

While preaching at the Iteso annual Church service at Namugongo Anglican Shrine yesterday, Bishop Odong said there are bishops whom Christians adore because they are living larger than life by fleecing their flock. He did not name the culpable bishops.

He also said many Christians nowadays attend Church but when they return home they revert to their satanic ways. 

More here-

https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Bishop-decries-fraudulent-clerics-Christians-Odong/688334-5353470-1xoxcu/index.html

Low clergy turn up for Bishop Hannington day angers Kadaga

From Uganda-


The speaker of parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has lashed out at some of the Anglican bishops who failed to turn up at the Bishop James Hannington prayer service held in Mayuge district recently.

Kadaga who was presiding over this year’s celebration at the martyrdom site on Tuesday said she was disappointed that the Ugandan clergy hold the day in low esteem, yet the day is highly observed in Canterbury, the headquarters of the Church of England.

“Today is a special day [Bishop Hannington feast day] in Canterbury; October 29,  the Anglican faith hold special prayers in remembrance of Bishop Hannington but people here take this day as a joke yet Bishop Hannington is the first martyr in Uganda,” the visibly irritated Kadaga told worshippers amid cheers.

More here-

https://observer.ug/news/headlines/62494-low-clergy-turn-up-for-bishop-hannington-day-angers-kadaga 

Archbishop-elect Kaziimba talks adversity, ministry and triumph

From Uganda-


Rt Rev Dr STEPHEN SAMUEL KAZIIMBA MUGALU is the incoming archbishop of the Church of Uganda after the House of Bishops elected him on August 28. 

Kaziimba is thoughtful and has a charismatic character. At 57 years, the theology doctor is the outgoing bishop of Mityana and will head the Anglican Church for the next eight years. He opened up to Nicholas Bamulanzeki and Dunstan Mukalazi about his tough upbringing, challenges as a priest, inspirational lessons as well as his future plans.

On the way to the residence of Dr Kaziimba, the three-kilometre stretch from Mityana town to Namukozi hill is littered with several monuments attributed to him. Our guide, a land broker in the town, assured us that Kaziimba has had a profound imprint in Mityana.

More here-

https://observer.ug/lifestyle/62071-archbishop-elect-kaziimba-talks-adversity-ministry-and-triumph 

Church probes anonymous letters targeting bishops

From Uganda-

The Anglican Church is investigating anonymous letters threatening the outgoing and incoming bishops of West Lango Diocese. 

The leaflets were discovered dropped in Apac Municipality, Aduku Town Council, Oyam Town and Kole Town on September 2.

The letters questioned the integrity of outgoing bishop Alfred Acur Okodi and bishop-elect Julius Caeser Nina. The letters also rejected the incoming bishop.

The leaflets that were reportedly dropped in the compound of St Peter Church of Uganda and the diocesan headquarters of West Lango, warned Bishop Acur Okodi not to step foot in the church.

“Bishop Acur should not step foot in Aduku. Consecration of bishop, don’t try. No consecration of Rev Nina in West Lango,” the circulated leaflets read in part. 

More here-

https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Church-probes-anonymous-letters-bishops-West-Lango/688334-5270446-u3vlnjz/index.html

Anglican Archbishops through the decades

From Uganda-

Bishop Samuel Stephen Kaziimba of Mityana diocese was on Wednesday announced the Archbishop-elect of the Church of Uganda edging out a number of contenders.

The decision to replace retiring Archbishop Stanley Ntagali with the 57-year-old as the church's 9th Archbishop was made by the House of Bishops who convened inside the Provincial Office of the Church of Uganda in Namirembe, Kampala.

Here, we take a look at the eight Archbishops who have been at the helm of the church over the decades dating as far back as the 1960s.

Leslie Brown (1961-1966)

Archbishop Leslie Brown, a British missionary, was the first Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Boga-Zaire

Brown was born in New York City and grew up in Albany, New York.  After working for the McDonald's Corporation as a manager and field supervisor she served as a college administrator at Skidmore College.

More here-

https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1506362/anglican-archbishops-decades

Church of Uganda elects new Archbishop today

From Uganda-

The House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Uganda convenes this morning to elect and later in the afternoon announce the 9th Archbishop of the Church of Uganda.

The House of Bishops is the body that elects the Archbishop and it comprises of all active Diocesan and Assistant Bishops from the 37 dioceses. The Provincial Chancellor presides over the election.

The new Archbishop will be enthroned in March next year taking over from Stanley Ntagali.

Archbishop Ntagali was elected and enthroned as Archbishop on December 16 2012 at the age of 57. He turns 65 years old on March 1, 2020 and that is the mandatory age of retirement. 

Provincial Secretary, Rev. Canon Captain William Ongeng said yesterday in a press statement that the election of the new Archbishop will be announced today at the Provincial Office of the Church of Uganda, Namirembe. 

More here-

https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Church-of-Uganda-elects-new-Archbishop-today/688334-5251480-t5aluhz/index.html

Glen Innes Reverend Andrew Newman on mission from God to Uganda

From Australia-

Glen Innes' former Anglican Minister will teach at a bible college in a remote part of Uganda for the next decade.

He laughs that he's on a mission from God - literally.

Reverend Andrew Newman, the Glen Innes Anglican minister from 1998 to 2006, soon plans to leave behind the New England for Rukungiri in south west Uganda, close to the Rwandan border. 

Andrew and wife Margie will help train a new generation of religious educators at a new bible college in the area.

Andrew says the local Ugandan Bishop Benon says "Christianity in Africa and Uganda is a mile wide - millions of Christians - but only an inch deep.

"No-one really knows their bible."

Uganda is stuck in a classic educational bottlekneck - they don't have enough trained-up teachers to train new ones to keep up with a massive population increase.

More here-

https://www.gleninnesexaminer.com.au/story/6301842/glen-innes-reverend-on-mission-from-god-to-uganda/

Occasion to celebrate 100 years of Christianity turns into mourning

From Uganda-

Last month marked 42 years since Church of Uganda commemorated the muted centennial celebrations of Christianity in Uganda.

The first missionaries to come to Uganda were from the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in London. They founded the present-day Anglican Church in Uganda having arrived here in June 1877.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of their arrival, Church of Uganda prepared an event on June 30, 1977, under the theme ‘A live church in Uganda’. Preparations were done both at provincial and diocesan levels across the country.

All sorts of souvenirs, ranging from lapel badges, ties, bags to clothes, were on sale ahead of the main event.

Death of Luwum
 
But three months to the D-Day, the country woke up to the news of the death of the main celebrant of the centenary celebrations, then Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Janani Luwum.

The official government statement was that it was an escape attempt gone wrong. But the government’s version did not stand the test of time.

The centennial preparations had put the church and government at odds because of the prevailing economic situation in Uganda at the time.

More here-

https://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/PeoplePower/Occasion-celebrate-100-years-Christianity-turns-into-mourning/689844-5212556-vlx9ek/index.html

Anglican church installs first female head

From Uganda-

All Saints’ Cathedral, Kampala (ASCK) will install her first-ever female Provost in the history of the Church of Uganda, Rev. Canon Dr. Rebecca Margaret Nyegenye, and her assistant, Rev. Captain David Serunjogi on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, during the mid-week service.

The service will start at 4:00 pm. The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda and the Bishop, Diocese of Kampala, His Grace Stanley Ntagali, will preside over the function.

The Provost is the Parish Priest who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Cathedral for providing overall leadership to the Cathedral ministry in articulating and implementing the Vision, Mission, Objectives and entire operations of the Church while maintaining the dignity, heritage, and values of the Anglican Church of Uganda.

Rev. Canon Dr. Nyegenye was born and raised in the eastern district of Busia to the late Rev. James Efumbi and Janet Efumbi, she is the second born of seven.

More here-

https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1503127/anglican-church-installs-female-head

Praying for the dead now expensive! Namirembe Diocese to take 75% of condolences in funeral service

From Uganda-

Rev Canon Nelson Kaweesa, the Secretary of Namirembe diocese has said that 75% of the condolences will be retained by the church and the bereaved family will take 25%.

In a letter addressed to the different dignitaries in Namirembe Diocese, Rev Kaweesa said the decision was taken by the Diocesan Council.

He said collecting condolences will be conducted before the sermon to enable the ushers to count the money and divide it accordingly before the end of each service.

“75% of the condolence will be retained by the church to enable it pay for the items that were used in the service,” reads the letter in part.

He added that this arrangement includes funeral services held at home.

More here-

http://www.pmldaily.com/news/2019/06/namirembe-diocese-to-take-75-of-condolences-in-funeral-service.html

Catholic Church mourns Kenyan pilgrims perished in Iganga hit and run accident

From Uganda-

The Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC), the assembly of Catholic Bishops in Uganda has honoured the four Kenyan pilgrims perished in a hit and run accident on weekend as they trekked from Bungoma Diocese, Kenya to Namugongo Martyrs shrines, for the annual pilgrimage.

“Prayers and fond memories are what we have to remember our dearly departed four Kenyan pilgrims who were walking to Namugongo’s Martyrs Catholic Shrine today (Sunday),” a statement shared on their official social media reads.

Two of the victims were from Kisoko Parish while the other two were from Naitiri Parish, which are both under Bungoma Catholic Diocese.

UEC adds that the victims were among the about 150 pilgrims who were heading to Namugongo for this year’s martyr’s day to be marked on June 3.

Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga says two of the pilgrims who died on the spot have been identified as Obanga Ashiuma Geoffrey, 48 of Naitiri, Bungoma and Roseline Wanjala (51), of Kisoko, Busia.

More here-

http://www.pmldaily.com/news/2019/05/catholic-church-mourns-kenyan-pilgrims-perished-in-iganga-hit-and-run-accident.html

One million pilgrims expected at Anglican martyrs shrine

From Uganda-

With eleven days remaining to the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations, the Anglican Church is prepared to receive over one million pilgrims for the 3^rd June event.

The Archbishop from Kenya, Jackson Ole will lead the celebrations that are being organised by dioceses like Central Buganda, Mityana, Luweero, Mukono and West Buganda.

The venue and security coordinator Mary Nsangi Kakembo said they have prepared facilities including washrooms to cater for more than one million pilgrims.

23 Anglican Martyrs and 22 Catholic Martyrs were killed between 1885 and 1887 on the orders of Buganda King Mwanga for accepting Christian.

More here-

https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1500825/million-pilgrims-expected-anglican-martyrs-shrine