Youths attend first symposium ahead of pope's visit

By Juliet Lukwago & Andante Okanya   

Thousands of youths gathered at YES Centre at Nsambya in Kampala for a first ever symposium, ahead of Pope Francis’ visit due in November.

The colourful ceremony started with a march from Sharing Hall Nsambya to the YES Center which was flagged off by Msgr Edward Kalumba, the Parish Priest of Christ the King Church Kampala.

The conference was held under the theme: Environmental protection, climate change and modern slavery; a call for collective responsibility.

The Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, gave a delivery during the meet. He is also the vice-chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) National preparatory committee – the committee chosen by the episcopal conference for Pope Francis’ pastoral visit to Uganda.
 

true
From 2nd-left, Msgr Dr. Francis Ndamira (National Director - Caritas Uganda), Defense Minister Dr. Crispus Kiyonga and the Archbishop of Kampala, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga. (Credit: Juliet Lukwago)

Lwanga revealed that the pope wrote to the committee “for the challenges we are facing today, including environment, slavery, child sacrifice, prostitution”.

He also talked of the pope’s firm stand against modern slavery calling upon all communities to reject personal and commercial exploitation.

It is understood the leader of the world’s Catholic also wrote a pastoral letter in which he exhaustively outlined the two dramatic and interconnected challenges: climate change and the new form of slavery (human trafficking and prostitution).

Lwanga told the young people:  “There is every evidence that global warming or climate change is one of the causes of poverty as well as forced migration to urban areas for economic reasons which favour human trafficking, forced labour, prostitution.”
 

true

More than 30 million people all over the world, he added, are victims of modern-day slavery. “Uganda has not been spared either from this inhuman vice of modern slavery as well as the human trafficking,” he quoted the pope’s letter.

The pope also highlighted the need for local authorities to provide their support to their police chiefs in the fight against modern slavery.

The symposium attracted a huge attendance: students, priests, nuns, brothers, teachers, parents, professional youths, organizations and associations, the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU).

Lwanga said the conference is crucial to arouse attention towards climate change and modern-day slavery.

During his visit, the pope is expected to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the canonization of the Uganda Martyrs.

 “Despite the fact that most of the martyrs were youth, their sacrifice was the seed that helped to draw Uganda and the whole of Africa to Christ. They are truly the founding fathers of the modern African Church, which displays so much vigor today,” said Lwanga.

At the same event, raffle draw was launched for a chance to win Archbishop Lwanga’s Mercedes Benz car (pictured below). Each ticket is sold at sh2,000 – meant to raise funds for repairs of the Munyonyo and Namugongo shrines.
 

true

The symposium was graced by defence minister Dr Crispus Kiyonga, who represented the Speaker of the Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga. He called upon the youth to draw lessons from the pope’s visit.

He also urged the young people to steer away from alcohol and drugs.“Drugs have damaged youth in our country,” said Kiyonga, who provided reference to his son whose abuse of drugs saw his life brought to a premature end.

Former FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa, in his address, tasked parents to be vital players in the lives of their children.

Mulindwa, who is the proprietor of St. Mary’s Secondary School Kitende, decried the current trend where children are left in the care of domestic helps and television.

“As parents, we have a duty of nurturing, educating and protecting our children from all sorts of temptations,” said Mulindwa, currently the vice president of the Confederation of East and Central Africa Football Associations(CECAFA).

true
Fr Raymond Kalanzi Youth team displays messages. (Credit: Juliet Lukwago)
 

true
Pupils of Good Times Kawaala entertain the geusts. (Credit: Juliet Lukwago)

Others present at the symposium were Fr Raymond Kalanzi of Padre Pio Shrine, Youth Chaplain Kampala Archdiocese Fr. Joseph Luzindana, Fr. Dr Joseph Mary Ssebunnya; chancellor Kampala Archdiocese, and Msgr Dr.Francis Ndamira of Caritas Uganda.

Also present was Msgr John Baptist Kauta; Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Uganda, Msgr Lawrence Ssemusu; chaplain of Makerere University Business School, Msgr Edward Kalumba; parish priest of Christ the King Church, Kampala, and Dr Sandra Nabachwa; the Director of Prolife Kampala Archdiocese.