Author Archives: kdiocese

WOUNDS FROM THE KASESE SCHOOL ATTACK STILL FRESH

*Locals and military gathering at Mpondwe-Lhubiriha Secondary School*

It’s exactly a month since the suspected ADF rebels attacked Mpondwe Lhubiriha Secondary School in Kasese district. 44 lives were lost- 38 of whom were school going children.

According to the community which neighbors the school, the incidence still looks fresh to them because up to now they cannot imagine a rebel group killing dozens of people above all children who are not armed. The fate of three students who were abducted by the suspected rebels is not yet known.

The community’s prayer is that these abducted children do not suffer the fate of their colleagues. A one Biira who was among the abducted students, was found dead and partially buried by the same suspected rebel group in the Virunga National Park in the DR. Congo nearly two weeks after the attack. Biira’s remains were handed over to her parents on the 5^th July 2023 after a successful DNA test.

*Locals gathering at Mpondwe-Lhubiriha Secondary School after suspected ADF rebel attack on the school*

Twenty one of the thirty eight children killed were female and the rest males. On June 27, the government of Uganda handed over 11 corpses to their families after DNA test in what was also regarded as somber moods. Until now there are no reports known or reasons why ADF rebels targeted such institution of unarmed citizens.

The government of Uganda has blamed the attack on the ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) an Islamist rebel group that that has been active in the region since 1996.

This was not ADF’s first attack on a school in Uganda. In June 1998, 80 students were burned to death in their dormitories in an ADF attack on Kichwamba Technical Institute in the district oof Kabarole within the Rwenzori region and more than 100 students were abducted.

Earlier before that in 1997, the ADF rebels attacked St. John the Evangelist Minor Seminary-Kiburara in the Diocese of Kasese, where nineteen students and two members of the non-teaching staff were kidnapped. Of the 21 abductees, only eleven returned home.

A week before the June 2023 Friday’s attack, suspected ADF fighters carried out an attack in the popular Domene village in the DR Congo, “forcing dozens to cross to Uganda for refuge at the Catholic Shrine in Kabuyiri in the Diocese of Kasese,

The DR.Congo’s Catholic Church says the ADF has killed thousands of civilians since 2013 while a respected monitor, the Kivu Security Tracker, blames the group for more than 1,200 deaths in North Kivu’s Beni area alone since 2017.

The Ugandan authorities recently accused the ADF or a local group affiliated with it of carrying out or planning attacks.

PARENTS ENCOURAGED TO CONCENTRATE ON FRUIT PLANTING

Mr.John Wakighoma of Kitwamba town council in Kasese has revealed his plans to establish a nursery bed that will supply fruit tree seedlings to the local community.

Growing fruits offers a unique chance to teach children about the importance of healthy foods and nutrition. Whether the fruit-eaters are children, animals or impoverished neighbors — fruit trees take advantage of Mother Nature’s natural resources system…and deliver shade, soil conditioning, food for wildlife…and food for humans and our animals. And it lasts for decades! That’s a lot for one simple plant.

Addressing an annual Parents Teachers Association commonly known as (PTA) meeting at Kuruhe high school founded by the Catholic diocese of Kasese over the weekend, Mr. Wakighoma who proposed tree planting to be a communal activity, said the project would turn the town council into a potential fruit supplier to the rest of the region.

Giving an example of Road-barrier cell in Kasese Municipality as a consistent fruit supplier in Kasese, Mr. Wakighoma said whereas the famous maize planting in greater Kitswamba is important as well, diversification to other crops is paramount to maintain soil fertility and quality production. Mr. Wakighoma speaking1…….

Mr. Wakighoma who said he had perceived important the guidance from the Rt. Rev. Francis Aquirinus Kibira, the Ordinary of the Diocese of Kasese said like in Buganda region, fruit trees provide fruits, shed, firewood and act as windbreakers as well.

He was convinced that with a variety of fruits at home, churches and schools, children would not trespass to the neighbor’s gardens for what to eat. Mr. Wakighoma speaking………

Mr. Wakighoma’s guidance comes at a time when one of the elders, Mesach Mbaka in the area called on schools and families near him to plant fruit trees to feed their learners and children who mismanage his fruits. END

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC MEN ASSOCIATION LAUNCHED IN KYALHUMBA PARISH, KASESE.

*Bishop Kibira with St.Joseph Catholic Men Association members after launch*

St.Joseph Catholic Men Association offers men the opportunity to participate in church activities hence grow spiritually, economically through the social development. This association has been launched and highly welcomed by men within the Catholic Diocese of Kasese in their different categories to serve the Lord. The New Apostolic movement will partly intervene in parental challenges. The Movement was launched in Kyalhumba Parish on the 1^st May 2023 by the Bishop who also announced Rev.Fr.Asaba Cosmas as the diocesan chaplain.

*Bishop Kibira* *speaking at the launch*

Bishop Kibira further asked catholic men to work hard, invest in education, fight domestic violence, promote the savings culture, Green gold and unity for all.

The Bishop who called for palling meetings by families, also prayed that St. Joseph the worker catholic men’s association Sacco roles to the rest of the parishes in the diocese to promote the savings culture, unity and hard work among men.

*The diocesan Chaplain (extreme right) together with guests, Donald Turbitt and Richard Dick Kiernana*

Two months after the launch in Kyalhumba, the diocese of Kasese hosted two guests, Donald Turbitt and Richard Dick Kiernana who belong to the Men of St.Joseph International and come follow me discipleship USA. The two guests moved to different parishes within the diocese to sensitize all men on their different roles in church and family. They urged men to form discipleship groups where every man can get in touch with others, pray together, support one another and develop together.

St.Joseph Catholic Men Association is aimed at helping men imitate the virtues of St. Joseph.

St. Joseph is the saint to lead men on the path to holiness and into an authentic masculinity that enters into the depths of the Most Sacred Heart. Men devoted to prayer, hard work, sacrifice, spiritual warfare, truth, love, and the deep desire to lead souls to Christ. END

MISSIONARY HOLY CHILDHOOD DAY

*Children of the missionary holy childhood at Kasese Cathedral* *parish*

Throughout the month of June, the children of the missionary holy childhood have been engaged in different activities across the diocese. Some of these activities included, participating in Music dance and drama under the theme “Together in Communion” Some of the items presented by the children to their fellow children and all people of God, were the Poem, Missionary holy childhood prayer among others. The aim of these activities is to “Move children to share their faith and material means especially with other fellow children.

On 9^th July 2023, was the climax of the annual holy childhood activities in the Catholic diocese of Kasese. The diocese joined the entire church in the whole world to celebrate the Missionary Holy Childhood Sunday.

On this day of celebration, children across the country were involved in different church activities that included animating liturgy during mass.

At Kasese Cathedral Parish, children’s mass was led by Rev.Fr.Mbusa Joseph, the Education Secretary of the diocese of Kasese. In his homily, Fr Mbusa asked the children to love one another and live in unity with each other. He reminded them that in all their troubles, they should always come to Jesus, he is the only person who can help them. He added that children should not be other people’s burdens adding that they should not be a reason why people have to cry to God daily. The priest further encouraged Christians to pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit so as to do things that are of God’s spirit not of the flesh.

The Missionary Childhood Movement is a world-wide organization made up of Catholic children: from baptism to twelve years. Called by Baptism to share the gospel with others, Missionary Childhood serve the Church world-wide through a distinct focus entirely on children.

This Society of Holy Childhood, is one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies, present in more than 130 countries around the world, with the motto: “Children evangelize children, children pray for children, children help children all over the world.” In Uganda, the Missionary childhood day is celebrated every second Sunday of July.

BISHOP MELCHIZEDEC OF BUTEMBO-BENI IN DR.CONGO VISITS KASESE

*Bishop of Butembo-Beni diocese, Rt.Rev. Melchizedec Sikuli*

The Ordinary Bishop of Butembo-Beni diocese in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo Rt.Rev.Melchizedec Sikuli Paluku visited Kasese Catholic diocese on the 3^rd July 2023. The Bishop had come for a pastoral visit in Kasindi Parish that borders the catholic diocese of Kasese. After confirmation in Kasindi parish, the Bishop used the Ugandan route to cross to Bwisela parish in the DR. Congo that neighbors with the district of Bundibugyo on Ugandan side. The Bishop said this was the easiest and safest route through Uganda due to the war instabilities. In his remarks during the holy sacrifice of Mass at Kasese Cathedral Parish, Bishop Sikuli informed the Christians how he had finished a period of 15 years without visiting Bwisela parish in the Eastern Parts of DR.Congo due war instabilities.

*Bishops, Rt.Rev. Melchizedec Sikuli (Right) and Rt.Rev. Francis Akwirinus Kambale (left)*

On that same day during Mass, the Rt.Rev. Melchizedec Sikuli invited the ordinary Bishop of the Diocese of Kasese Rt.Rev. Francis Akwirinus Kambale together with the Christian community for his episcopal silver jubilee that will take place on the 11^th August 2023 at the diocesan headquarters of Butembo Beni. He further revealed that the war in Eastern parts of Congo started on the day of his episcopal ordination adding that seven priests have been abducted by the ADF rebel group on top of several Christians who have been killed and abducted. This implies that the DR Congo has been in war for the last 25 years.

*Bishops, Rt.Rev. Melchizedec Sikuli and Rt.Rev. Francis Akwirinus Kambale* *in joint photo with priests from Kasese and Butembo-Beni dioceses*

The Host Bishop of the diocese of Kasese challenged the Christians to impress with gratitude the peace they are enjoying and asked them to utilize the peace for development programs. He further asked the Christians to pray for peace in the entire region of Congo and Uganda as a whole since the ADF had attacked students in a Ugandan school.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Butembo-Beni is a diocese located in the cities of Butembo and Beni in the Ecclesiastical province of Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo.