Archbishop Kaziimba to decide fate of proposed West Ruwenzori diocese
BUNDIBUGYO – The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda [COU], the Most Rev Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, is expected to approve the creation of the proposed West Ruwenzori diocese if he is satisfied with the preparations that have been going to have the diocese in Bundibugyo district, western Uganda.
Dr. Kaziimba, who is in Ruwenzori region on his first pastoral visit there, will be in Bundibugyo district tomorrow [Friday]. And being at the top of COU hierarchy, the Archbishop is expected to give his final recommendations on whether the proposed diocese should be actualised. The Archbishop is in Rwenzori region from today [Thursday] up to Sunday.
If West Ruwenzori diocese is actualised, then the geographical reach of the mother Rwenzori Diocese will be narrowed further, as East Rwenzori Diocese and South Rwenzori diocese were also created out of the original diocese.
And according to Rev. Julius Tumwesige, the Archdeacon of Bumadu Archdeaconry in Bundibugyo town council where the new diocese will be headquartered, they are waiting for the final word from Kaziimba who was elected ninth Archbishop of COU on August 28, 2019, and enthroned on March 1, 2020, replacing the now-retired Archbishop Henry Ntagali.
“He is coming on a pastoral visit but as Bundibugyo we are lucky as people seeking to have a new diocese that the archbishop will also visit us and also assess the progress of this work, certainly, his word will be final in this development,” Rev. Tumwesige said.
The reverend said they had planned inauguration for the first bishop of Ruwenzori West which was scheduled for this month [July] but this will only happen after getting final recommendations from the Archbishop.
“We have covered over 95 percent of all the requirements for the creation of the diocese. However, only a few such as the construction of an outside kitchen and toilet on the Bishop’s house, perimeter wall, plastering of the outside part of the cathedral, and buying more furniture are remaining,” he said.
However, the Bishop of Ruwenzori diocese, Reuben Kisembo, said the proposed West Ruwenzori diocese is at about 70 percent in fulfilling the requirements to be granted the much-needed status.
He said some of the requirements for a diocese to work on include; buying the bishop’s car worth Shs.50 million, Shs 100mln start-up fund to run the diocese and the Bishop’s house.
Bishop Kisembo said once they fulfill the requirements, they will be ready to take off.
The demand for the diocese by Christians of Bundibugyo started as early as 1986 on account of language differences between the people of Tooro, the Bamba/Babwisi, and Bakonzo communities.
In 2017, rebel Christians in Bundibugyo district requested a separate diocese from Ruwenzori and demanded the transfer of Canon Jonathan Kyangasha, who had been appointed Archdeacon of Bumadu by the Bishop of Ruwenzori Diocese.
In the same year, COU Synod agreed to the creation of the diocese and asked the authorities to construct staff houses, the Bishop’s house, and have qualified staff.
If created, the new diocese will comprise three archdeaconries, 21 parishes, and 163 churches, with a population of over 165,000 Christians.
According to the Church of Uganda website, other dioceses include: Ankole, Bukedi, Bunyoro – Kitara, Busoga, Central Buganda, Central Busoga, East Ruwenzori, Kampala, Karamoja, Kigezi, Kinkiizi, Kitgum, Kumi, Lango, Luwero, Madi West Nile, Masindi-Kitara, Mbale, Mityana, Muhabura, Mukono, and Namirembe.
Others are: Nebbi, North Ankole, North Karamoja, North Kigezi, North Mbale, Northern Uganda, Northwest Ankole, Sebei, Soroti, South Ankole, South Rwenzori, West Ankole, West Buganda, and West Lango.
If created, West Ruwenzori diocese will be the 38th diocese in the Church of Uganda Province.
https://thecooperator.news/fort-portal-diocese-seeking-shs1bn-for-uganda-martyrs-celebrations/
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