Increasing number of single mothers worrying - Arch Lwanga

The Archbishop of Kampala Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga on Friday touched a sensitive part; expressing concern over the "increasing number of single mothers" which he said worried the church.

The archbishop made the sentiment at a function Vision Group said it raised sh1.3b as its contribution towards the facelift of the martyrs' shrines at Namugongo and Munyonyo, the highest amount any individual or indigenous company contributed towards the renovations.

In a homily, that was replete with biblical allusions, the Archbishop of Kampala condemned the ‘trend', labeling it a mockery of society values and the family and an injustice to children (raised by the single mothers).

The archbishop was strangely emphatic, calling on men to stop "making other people's daughters pregnant" if they can't marry them. He said the practice was impacting society.

"Many young girls have been turned into mothers. But they don't have husbands. They have babies at their fathers' home. So, they don't have value.  And no one will marry them," said the archbishop.

"Men should show responsibility. Parents should show responsibility. This practice is killing the family unit. Each born child needs a father, same as it needs a mother," he said.

On the day the Catholic Church venerated the virgin martyr St. Agatha, who was killed after denying Sicily governor Quintian sex, the head of Catholics in Kampala, called for courage, purity and the intersection of the martyr to hoist the family unit.

He explored the topic sex, saying the young don't "understand" it; and the many couples who are living in ‘unholy' relationships. The archbishop said he would organize a mass wedding at the Namugongo martyrs' shrine so every couple that's cohabiting can be joined in Holy Matrimony.

At the function at the Vision Group head office attended by the shrine rectors at Namugongo and Munyonyo Fr. Vincent Lubega and Fr. Dr. Marion Golb, aka Kajubi, plus other clergy, Vision Group chief executive officer Robert Kabushenga revealed the company fundraised sh1.3b towards the refurbishment of the martyrs' shrines.

He said a cheque signifying the money handover to the church would be presented at a Saturday function at the Munyonyo shrine.  Kabushenga handed to the Archbishop a publication containing names of individuals, companies and organizations who contributed the sh1.3b.

"The amount was generated from the sale of Papal Rosaries, specifically imported from Rome," said Kabushenga. "Each rosary was sold at sh100,000"

The Archbishop of Kampala hailed Vision Group and its CEO Robert Kabushenga for the contribution towards the renovation of the martyrs' shrines.

The decision to renovate the holy grounds where the Uganda martyrs were killed was reached after news confirming Pope Francis would visit Uganda from November 27 to November 29 last year, was confirmed.

The Rev. Fr. Vincent Lubega commended all Ugandans who contributed towards the renovation of the shrines, saying Namugongo was "sparkling".

Pope Francis arrived in Uganda Friday November 27. While in the country, the Holy Father and leader of the world's approximately 2.1b Catholics, emphasized peace, unity, and harmony especially in people's homes and at the workplace.

He visited President Yoweri Museveni at State House Entebbe and the Munyonyo martyrs' shrine before presiding over mass at a newly renovated Catholic Martyr's Shrine at Namugongo to pay tribute to the 45 Uganda martyrs on November 28.

Later, he encouraged a group of youth at Kololo Independence grounds to live fulfilling lives before visiting needy children and the elderly at the Mapeera Bakateyamba Home in Nalukolongo.

The Holy Father left Entebbe International Airport on November 29 en-route to Central African Republic, where he preached peace and reconciliation to bridge a divide between Muslims and Christians in the country