By Solomon Hamala
BUGIRI
Busoga diocese is seeking shillings 850 million towards completion of premises to accommodate the new bishop elect for the proposed East Busoga diocese in Bugiri.
The Diocesan Secretary Busoga, Rev. Canon Patrick Mutalwa told this website on Tuesday 19th May 21, 2021 that so far only shillings 150 million has been raised towards the same cause.
Mutalwa said preparations for the start of the new diocese which started in 2018 were halted due to the COVID 19 pandemic last year.
He said the steering committee charged with the task of soliciting for the funds had earlier expected the new diocese to officially start in June last year but were disrupted due to COVID 19 pandemic that hit most parts of the world.
“There was no way these people could continue with the process since most of the people donating funds are scattered in different parts of the world,” he said.
Mutalwa said a team of officials from the Church of Uganda headquarters in Kampala are to pay a visit to the proposed diocese to assess the progress of work so far done and later present a report to the Archbishop.
He expressed optimism that by Mid-June next year, the new diocese will have started full operation with a new bishop elect in place in a bid to extend services closer to Christians.
The proposed East Busoga diocese with headquarters in Bugiri is to cover the districts of Namayingo, Mayuge and Namutumba.
Construction of the office block for the new Bishop and other members of staff and clergy are already nearing completion.
The chairperson LC 5 elect Bugiri, Davidson Kasaija said creation of the new Diocese will save Christians the burden of moving long distances seeking services like baptism or formalizing their marriages.
Kasaija urged Christians to donate generously towards the completion of the premises for the new bishop to ensure preparations move according to plan.
“Give whatever you have for the sake of completion of the new Bishop’s house,” he said.
The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Bugiri, Godfrey Nyakahuma hailed the ruling NRM government for ushering in peaceful environment that has enabled people of different religious beliefs to exercise their fundamental rights without being interrupted.
When this reporter visited the proposed site for the premises of the new bishop elect, construction work on the project had stalled leaving a bush surrounding the area.
The Chairperson Fathers’ Union, Central Busoga Diocese, Paul Isiko said creation of the new East Busoga diocese follows a request from Christians from the area who wanted services within their proximity
