Archbishop Lwanga wants kwanjula, wedding on same day

By Wilfred Sanya

WOULD you have your introduction ceremony and wedding on the same day at the same venue? In case you have not made up your mind, this is precisely what Kampala Archdiocese prelate Cyprian Lwanga is pushing for. 

He wants Christians to hold both ceremonies on the same day to cut costs. Lwanga said after the introduction ceremony most Christians do not follow through with the church wedding. 

“If the introduction and matrimonial ceremonies were organised at the same time it would be cost effective,” Lwanga said. 

He said introduction ceremonies had become very expensive of late and urged the Government to modify the relevant laws to allow for such ceremonies to be conducted. At the moment, the State only recognises weddings conducted in gazetted churches, mosques and at the registrar of marriages or any other gazetted venue. 

Lwanga made the remarks while presiding over a mass to mark the 1st anniversary of St. Mary Centenary Catholic Church in Kireka parish in Wakiso district on Sunday.

He lamented that since the parish was inaugurated, only 12 couples had so far been wedded there. Kireka Catholic church was founded in 1980 and is in Gayaza Deanery. It is has a congregation of 5,000 Christians. He appealed to the Christians in the area to work together to build the parish. 

The proposed priests’ house is to cost sh707m. At least sh38million was raised in cash and pledges during a fundraiser conducted during the event. He decried the escalating cases of domestic violence and urged Christians to love one another so as to create a peaceful environment in their homes. 

“It gets worse when you find young children discussing what happens at your home at school,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the Wakiso Woman MP Rosemary Sseninde pledged sh500,000 and the district chairman Matia Lwanga pledged sh1m on behalf of the district and another sh200,000 as a family contribution. 

The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) managing director, Silver Mugisha, who was chief guest pledged sh5m towards the construction of the priests’ house. Mugisha refuted recent press reports regarding the water supplied to populations to be connected to the current typhoid outbreak in the city. 

“By the time we supply the water from the source it is clean. It may get infected through some of the items you use in your homes, but boil water before drinking it,” he said.

Mugisha pointed out that they had increased the water coverage of 23 towns and they expect it to grow to 91 towns by June 2015. Our operations have expanded from three towns in 1972 to 66 urban centres in 2014. 

The Vicar-General of Archdiocese of Kampala, Monsignor Charles Kasibante also urged Christians to develop the areas from which hail to match the development they see in the city. 

The head of laity Onesmus Oyesigye, said the construction project will be completed within a year. It will have the priests’ residential house and a guest wing.