By Kitts D.Mabonga
RELIGION
The archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Paul semogerere, has emphasized the significance of citizens’ active involvement in the ongoing National population Census exercise for both national development and personal well-being.
This call was made on May 20, 2024 during the commissioning of two priests from the Spritans Congregation Uganda at the Mulago our lady of the sick catholic church in Kawempe division. He stressed the importance of all citizens embracing the program and actively participating in the Census exercise, which has been extended until May 25, 2024, as mandated by the constitution of Uganda.
He criticized those that are shunning the program with wrong arguments while others claiming to be Christians say the Bible has never preached against citizen’s participation in national development programs.
“We hear some clandestinely refusing to be counted by giving bogus reasons while majority claim to be Christians which is wrong, because the Bible has never preached against any government program and I take this opportunity to rally all citizens that have not undertaken the exercise to move forward and get counted for their own good,” he noted.
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Ssemogerere congratulated both Bernard Nsubuga who heads to Ethiopia and Igga Anthony who has been deployed to the Islands of Cape Verde for missionary priesthood services saying they must respect and strictly observe the rules of the game which governs them as catholic Christians.
Ssemogerere thanked the leadership of the Spiritans congregation Uganda and the Mulago catholic parish leadership for the event saying those going out to serve shall effectively represent the country in the line of catholic duty at the global world in their quest to preach the word of the Lord and serve mankind.
He cautioned the national leadership of the Catholic Church both individually or collectively to desist from speaking and acting recklessly which deeds end up embarrassing the church.
The provisional superior John Bosco Kamoga in his remarks congratulated the two officers for having undergone a lengthy and rigorous training and having finally come out ready to serve their church saying his office would offer them all necessary support as they move out to their new duty stations.
The congregation treasurer and Chaplain Fr. Aloysius Gonzaga separately later told the East African Gazette at their headquarters in Kyebando during their luncheon that they are grateful to the Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere for honoring their invite to preside over the event saying both the Congregation and Mulago Catholic Church appreciate his gesture
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Who are Spritans?
The Spiritans arrived in Uganda in 1983 and set up their headquarters ministry around Mulago parish and Mulago hospital chaplaincy in Kampala Archdiocese.
Gonzaga pointed out that the first Uganda Spiritans belonged to the East African Province including Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
He explained further that on October 2, 2008, the Uganda Foundation of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit was created by the Superior General comprising 25 members and currently Uganda has 65 missionaries deployed among 16 countries around the world with the furthest sent to Pakistan.
Others are deployed in the USA, UK, D R.Congo and South Africa among other countries.
The Spiritans are engaged in a variety of activities including fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic, providing free education to both school dropout girls and the deaf children as well as ministering the sick especially at Mulago Hospital.
The commitment to ministering to these marginalized people is an integral part of the Spiritan mission in Uganda who also can be found working in parishes throughout the country including the Archdiocese of Kampala and the Dioceses of Hoima and Kabale respectively.