Commitment is a choice

The Assistant Bishop of Kampala Rt. Rev. Zac Niriygire said " Commitment is a choice" the Bishop was officiating at a wedding of Hope Atim and Titus Tumusiime held at Church of The Resurrection Bugologi on Saturday 24th. The Bishop was preaching from the Book of Ruth, chapter 1, where Ruth said to Naomi “Don’t ask me to leave you! Let me go with you, wherever you go. I willgo, wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die and that is where I will be buried. The wedding was attended by many people including the Rtd Bishops of Northern Uganda, Nelson Onono-Onweng, and Mama Brenda, Rtd Bishop Allan Oboma, the Diocesan Secretary Rev. Canon Ayela, and many other people from across the country. Hope is the first daughter of Bishop Johnson Gakumba. While speaking to the newly wedded couple Bishop Zac, said "I promise you Hope and Titus that you will meet challenges in your marriage". Bishop Zac said some of the challenges will come from outside, while others will come from within. The Bishop appealed to Hope and Titus to learn to forgive one another. The Bishop concluded by saying the Hope and Titus must run to Jesus Christ for answers to issues in their marriage.

A Clergy daughter returns from LRA captivity after 12 years

Adiya Lillian daughter of the Late Rev. Peter Ben Ochan and Mary Ochan (Vice president of the Mothers Union) today unites with her mother, brothers and sister after spending 12 years in the bush. Lillian was abducted by the LRA in May 1998 when she was just in Primary Five at Gulu Primary School. The LRA came at night up to the primary school and abducted a number of children, some of them returned while others died. While receiving her daughter, Mary said " I have been praying to God to protect you just like He did to Daniel in the Bible". Lillian on her part narrated how on several occasion she had tried to escaped but could not make it, until January this year, that she finally escaped, from January 2010 she has been staying with different people in Congo, including the UPDF, the Congolese army as well as villagers. From a girl of about 10 years in 1998 to now a woman with two kids; - Olal and Lamwaka Mercy, Lillian is not yet very sure how she will look after her siblings without the husband and with no proper education. To make matter worst, Lillian almost fainted on learning that her father is dead. With your prayer and support Lillian will have a bright future.
 
Report by Willy

The way of the Cross 2010

In Gulu the way of the Cross was led by the Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese His Grace John Baptist Odama, and the Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Uganda Johnson Gakumba. The about 6 Kilometres walk attracted a large number of the faithful. I have given you some pictures of the event in Gulu and one from Kampala where His Grace Henry Luke Orombi together with the christains in Kampala participated in the walk. Below is also a story that appeared in the New Vision.









Kasubi prayers cause debate
Friday, 2nd April, 2010

The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Luke Orombi, carrying a cross in Kampala yesterday, in remembrance of the death of Jesus
By Ben Okiror

RELIGIOUS leaders have defended their involvement in the Kasubi tombs prayers last week, which had been criticised by some Christians for the site’s association with ancestral worship.

The prayers were led by Archbishop Cyprian Lwanga of the Kampala Catholic Archdiocese, who was wearing a bark cloth sash for the occasion.

He was joined by leaders of the Anglican, Pentecostal and Orthodox Churches as well as the Muslim faith.

Namirembe diocese Bishop Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira represented the Anglican Church.

Jonah Lwanga attended on behalf of the Orthodox Church in Uganda, while Zubair Kayongo of the Kibuli faction represented the Muslim community. Apostle Alex Mitala, represented Born-Again churches.

The religious leaders argued that they were only there to mourn with the Baganda and did not get involved in witchcraft. Pastors of some Born-again churches had objected to the presence of Christian leaders at the event.

Michael George Kizito, the president of the Watchman Africa Discernment Ministry, argued that Christians should not associate themselves with the tombs, a place where witchdoctors used to go to renew their powers..

“The burning of the tombs was unacceptable,” wrote Kizito in The New Vision yesterday. “However, there is no way a true Christian can pray to God to rebuild a temple where satanic rituals, such as devil invocation, pipe smoking, ancestral possession, fire altars, ritual cleansing and worship of the dead are practised.”

Pastor Anthony Owalu of Hope Restoration Ministries, while also condemning the burning of the tombs, said it was wrong for the religious leaders to pray at the Kasubi site. “They should have called for a prayer elsewhere and consecrate that place (Kasubi) to God. I would not want to be associated with such a place as a religious leader because of the traditional rituals that are being practiced there.”

Archbishop Lwanga has rejected the accusations, saying his critics were uninformed. He said Jesus Christ asked his apostles to spread the gospel to anybody without boundaries.

He cited Apostle Paul’s visit to Athens where he explained to idol-worshippers that the ‘unknown god’ was actually the Almighty God.

“We were there for a good purpose and nothing about witchcraft was mentioned,” Lwanga said. “We have bishops buried in the church compound, is that witchcraft? Ignorance prompts people to make such sweeping statements.”

Sheikh Hassan Kirya, the spokesperson for Kayongo, said they were there to pray for Kabaka Mutesa I since he was the first Muganda to embrace Islam. “Islam teaches us to pray for the dead and because Mutesa I did a lot to spread Islam, he is more important to us than anyone else,” Kirya said.

He explained that a Koran and the kettle used during the king’s ablution were lying on his tomb, according to the Islamic tradition. “The mosque in Kasubi was the first in Uganda, built in the 1880s,” he noted.

He added that the Muslims who went for the Kasubi tombs prayers were not part of witchcraft or the rituals performed that day.

Pastor Martin Sempa of the Makerere Community Church said he was there to ask God “to extinguish the fires in grieving people’s hearts that were ignited by strife”.

He agreed that there were some unchristian cultural practices by the kingdom but these were changing because of the church’s involvement. “The policy of disengagement is abdication of our responsibility as religious leaders,” Sempa said. “Even the Bible teaches to mourn with those who mourn. A family is a family and if the behaviour of some members may be unworthy, it does not mean you don’t attend family functions.”

The retired Anglican bishop of Mityana, Dunstan Bukenya, said the event was of critical nature and those who denounced the prayers were wrong. He said Kasubi was a burial place like any other. “If a night dancer went to a grave, it would not stop other people from visiting it.”

However, his successor, Stephen Kazimba, who did not go to Kasubi because of other commitments, said he would have first established what would take place to ensure it did not conflict with his faith.

Kazimba last year led a team of two other Anglican bishops and five clergy members to destroy a traditional shrine in a village in Mityana after the owner repented.

He however absolved his colleagues who went to Kasubi, saying they could have gone to show solidarity with the mourners without knowing what else was taking place there.

The Buganda kingdom’s deputy information minister, Medard Lubega, acknowledged that certain cultural practices took place at the Kasubi Tombs.

However, he said, any rituals performed were exclusively the business of those concerned.

“I am a Christian who lives among people of different religions but I do not take offence at their practices,” he noted

Church leaders are encouraged to go where satanic practices are performed to preach the gospel, he added.

He called the discussion diversionary and reiterated Mengo’s call for an independent probe into the cause of the fire.

“Our concentration is on investigating who exactly burnt the tombs.”

77 days the 7th Bishop visits 7 parishes plus 7 more things.

On Sunday 7th March 2010 Bishop Johnson marked 77 days as Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Uganda as the 7th Bishop, Johnson visited 7 Parishes of the Diocese of Northern Uganda, and Rev. Willy Akena brings you some highlight of the 77 days. Bishop Johnson was consecrated on December 20, 2009 by the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda His Grace Henry Luke Orombi who is also the 7th Archbishop of the Church of Uganda. The following parishes have already been visited: - St. Philips Cathedral where they have an old cathedral built in 1913 by missionaries, a new cathedral is under construction, Christ Church has a church building, Awere, Nwoya, Anaka, Purongo and Agung. Among the key activities that have already taken place was the clergy and spouses retreat. Gulu Primary school hosted this event that saw about 100 participants for this retreat which took place from 27th -30th January 2010. It was a time for healing of memories as the clergy and their spouses shared their experiences of ministry during the difficult period of the war. They went back with hope especially given the peace that is now prevailing and the new Bishop coming in at this time of return and resettlement.



MISS ME BUT LET ME GO
When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me
I want no riles in a gloom-filled room
why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a litt-le But not too long
And not with your head bowed low Remember the love that we once shared
Miss me-But let me go
For this is a journey that we must take
And each must go alone
It’s all a step in the Master’s plan
A step on the road home
When you are lonely and sick of heart
Go to the friends we know
And burry your sorrows in doing good deeds
Miss me but let me go.
This was read during the burial of Rt. Rev. Patrick Kyaligonza Ateenyi

Many Bishops attended the burial of their brother Bishop Patrick who died in a motor accident along the Fort Portal Kyenjojo Road. It was a week of mourning in the Church of Uganda. While coming for the burial of Bishop Patrick, the Bishop of North Mbale and that of Sebei Diocese got involved in another accident that took away the life of Mrs Papertua Gimadu all this happened in the District of Kyenjojo





Bishop Johnson Gakumba former pupil of Kyema Primary School 43 year ago on Friday 5th March 2010 called upon the pupils to listen to their teachers is they are to succeed. He advised the pupils to fear God because if they fear God then they will not be disappointed. He said he came back to thank the teachers for making him what he is now. The Bishop gave a number gifts including box of soap for teachers, 600 pens for pupils, different ball and pump, and whistles The Headmistress of the School Mrs. Esther Kaunde thanked the Bishop for remembering his former school. Esther said most people never think about their primary schools and never remember to go back and say thank you. The Bishop said he used to walk on bare foot to come to school and sometimes beaten by rains. The Bishop of Masindi Kitara Rt. Stanley Ntgali thanked Bishop Johnson for remembering his former school and promise to strengthen the relationship between Masindi Kitara and Diocese of Northern Uganda. In another related development the Bishop was welcomed in his village church of St. Paul COUKiswata, Kyema Parish Masindi District. Excited congregation lined the road leading to the venue church compound, singing, dancing and making Ululations. A Christina band dressed in a Light Greenish uniform made the day even more colourful. The bishop handed over of a Stall to his brother Bishop Stanley, Surplice and cassock to the Parish Priest and different colours of table cloth for church survice. The community together with the committee handed over gift ranging from cows to broom.
107 Years ago the Church Missionary Society under the leadership of Albert Cook crossed the Nile from Bunyoro to Acholi land. They then had a rest at a place later to become the current Agung. The name Agung came as a result of Kneeling down to pray in that place, the Acholi’s who accompanied the missionaries and some banyoro later named the place Agung meaning we kneel down. On Sunday 7th March which is exactly 77 days since Bishop Johnson was consecrated, another interesting coincidence happened. The Rev Canon Robert Spingett led a team from the Church of England to attend a service at Agung. The Rev. John Ochola and his wife Christine this time was their guide together with the Chairman house of laity Mr. Benjamin Buruto and his wife Jennifer. This time the missionaries came from through Gulu Town and in two vehicles. Bishop Johnson together with his wife Christine and two of their children Lamwaka Charity and Peace Agenorwot , Ayo David the Driver, Rev. Willy Akena and his wife Poline, came from Masindi Kitara Diocese in Bunyoro through the Bridge of Karuma and this time not crossing the water on foot but in a vehicle into Acholi land. A renewed prayer was said on the spot the missionaries once knelt down to pray. It came to the notice of the congregation that some people had taken over the Alter and turned it into a devil alter.

One Month In Office as Bishop

One month in Office as a bishop of the diocese of northern Uganda
30 days ago, a new Bishop was consecrated and Enthroned as the 7th Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Uganda in a colourful ceremony officiated by His Grace, the Archbishop of the Province of the Church of Uganda Henry Luke Orombi, and in attendance was His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Ambassadors, and many dignitaries .
Rev. Willy Akena has come up with summary activities of the past one month. I hope you will enjoy reading the extract.
A day after taking on the throne, Palenga on Kampala road was the first to wake up with excitement as they saw their own sons and daughters accompanied by their colleagues , friends and well wishers attracting onlookers light up the single street of the centre. Banana cuttings decorated the roadsides and also gave direction to the celebration point. Five more minutes of driving, and there we were! A small town like setting, with multitudes of Christians, jubilating, singing and dancing with joy for their own son had arrived.
The organizing committee for that function seemed to be personalities of caliber, with different talents. This could be seen in the sitting arrangement, executive chairs, state of the art public address system, and the red carpet. The presence of so many Roman Catholic Sisters in their veils demonstrated a very strong ecumenical arrangement.
During the Service, The Rev. Modicum Okello, a son of the soil appealed to the community to come back to the Lord because God does not disappoint. His word did not come back empty. Many who were touched by this message openly confessed their faith and pledged to follow the path of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The gifts that were given demonstrated love and loyalty to their son. Palenga remains in History for being the first to host the New Bishop, their son.
On Christmas day the Rt. Rev. Johnson Gakumba was in St. Philips Cathedral where he was consecrated and Enthroned. The day attracted more than the church building could hold. Those who came late did not find comfortable seats. Some actually stood the whole time of the service. The Bishop Confirmed 46 candidates, among them were Mr. Acire Dennis who was due to be joined in holy matrimony by the Bishop himself later on the 2nd of January.
The New Year found the Bishop at Christ Church, where he was a Vicar before the Retired Archbishop Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo requested him to go to Luzira Prison as a Chaplain. Bishop Johnson was later transferred to Bugologi church of Uganda by the current Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi. He officiated in all the three services beginning with the first one at 6:00am and ending with the last one at 12:00 noon, Christians in Northern Uganda welcomed the New Year with a new message of hope and encouragement not to fear but trust in the Lord who will see them to the end of the year.
Many others activities came in among them were burials, weddings, thanksgiving for 60 years of marriage between Dr. Odonga and his wife Mary.
On the 5th January some bad people also visited the Bishop Residence at night and took off with a number of gifts given to the Bishop and family. At the time of compiling this report, the bad boys have been remanded to Gulu Prison. They were arrested with some of the stolen gifts.
On 14th of January, a convention was organized at Reckiceke Primary School in Amuru District. Christians came from the Diocese of Masindi- Kitara, Nebbi, and a number of Parishes of the Diocese of Northern Uganda. A total of 325 candidates were confirmed by the Retired Bishop Gideon Allan Oboma. The Bishop himself was out of the County for great Lakes region peace meeting held in Bujumbura, Burundi and so Gideon carried out the function on his behalf.
In another related development, fencing of the Bishop Residence also commences and is ongoing. Pray that we get resources to complete the fencing.
A number of visitors have also come to see for themselves what they can do to support the Diocese that was once a war field. Some of them are already supporting the people here to heal their memories. Under this healing of memories, we have some people trained in Mentoring, and some children of those who have been maimed are getting scholarship to study.
There has been also some appointment and transfer as a way of improving the ministry, details will come in the next report.
Finally the Car given by the President is here to help the Bishop in his pastoral care to the people who are returning to their homes after being in the Internally Displaced camps for many years.