October 2022 will forever be remembered as a special month in the history of Church of Uganda. This is when Bunyoro Kitara Diocese celebrated 50 years of existence after being curved out of Ruwenzori Diocese in October 1972.
Noteworthy is that, in October 1972, Bukedi Diocese and Busoga Diocese were inaugurated after being curved out of Mbale Diocese and Namirembe Diocese respectively.
At the celebrations to mark the Golden Jubilee of Bunyoro-Kitara Diocese on Sunday, 30th October 2022 at St Peter’s Cathedral Convention grounds in Duhaga, Hoima City, His Excellency Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda, commended the Diocese for its role in the socio-economic transformation of Bunyoro region.
“The Diocese has established schools, hospitals, agriculture projects, participated in peace building, disaster response, income generating projects, participated in environment conservation and spread the gospel of wealth creation at household level,” said President Museveni.
President Museveni who was represented by the Prime Minister, Rt Hon. Robinnah Nabanja said that it is very hard to separate the Church from the socio service sector.
“Bunyoro Kitara Diocese in the last 50 years has been a key player in the socio-economic transformation of not only Bunyoro region but the entire country. A lot has been achieved and am sure the next 50 years will be years of accelerated progress. The government will continue partnering with the Diocese to achieve its development agenda,” said President Museveni.
The Archbishop of Church of Uganda, The Most Rev Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu commended the Diocese for focusing on self-sustainability and self-dependency to avoid donor dependency.
“The Diocese has established many income generating projects to enhance its self-sustainability agenda. It has also done well in clergy welfare, surveyed its land to protect it from land grabbers and established agriculture projects with support from NAADS,” said Archbishop Kaziimba.
He added, “I am grateful that you have had a mission week and convention for people to be free because jubilee is about setting people free from bondage, lives being revived, restored, reconciled, recommitted, repented and reformed. May the next 50 years be of spiritual revival, repentance, reconciliation, reformation and may God help us to make more disciples.”
Rt Rev Samuel Kahuma, the Diocesan Bishop, thanked the government for introducing the parish development model and pledged support to the program.
“We welcome and support the government program of Parish Development Model to improve household incomes of our people for their own wellbeing but also to boost their capacity to support their respective local churches to engage in holistic ministry. We will use our privileged opportunities of regular voluntary gatherings, working together with the relevant technocrats to mobilize our people for development,” said Bishop Kahuma.
He further noted that the Diocese has planned to establish a Church/community FM radio station for purposes of engaging the population consistently with the gospel in a holistic sense as well as mobilizing people to engage in church and government programs for development.
The Prime Minister contributed 18 Million Shillings towards the radio project and over 100 Million was collected in cash and pledges for the same.
She also launched Retired Bishop Nathan Kyamanywa’s book, “From Obscurity to Prominence” which details the rich history of Bunyoro-Kitara Diocese.
Former Archbishops; Stanley Ntagali of Uganda and Emmanuel Collin of Rwanda, Bishops; George Samuel Bogere Egesa (Bukedi), Pons Ozelle (Nebbi), Julius Caeaser Nina (West Lango), Reuben Kisembo (Ruwenzori), George Kasangaki (Masindi-Kitara), Wilson Turumanya (Retired-Bunyoro Kitara) and Nathan Kyamanywa (Retired – Bunyoro Kitara) attended the jubilee celebrations.
ENDS
