Anxiety in Busoga as bishop Naimanhye announces retirement

BUSOGA - The declaration that the Anglican Bishop of Busoga Diocese recently made when he announced his retirement has caused anxiety and excitement in Busoga sub-region.

Having served ten years now, the Rt. Rev Bishop Paul Samson Mukembo Naimanhye is currently conducting farewell tours, affirming that the time is now to hand over the mantle to a new Minister.

The decree to move one has, since last month, sent a wave of anxiety and excitement, amid the Anglican congregation and the public, guessing the lucky God chosen man to replace the committed and hardworking outgoing senior clergy.

'Select a committed, loving, and passionate bishop'

Recently, while presiding over the close of St. Mark’s Week at St. Mark Church -Kamuli in Kamuli Municipality, Kamuli district, Naimanhye wished the flock the best in God’s Ministry, but hastened to pray that the vetting team selects a committed, flexible and passionate Minister, loaded with likely characters.

“My work is accomplished. The remnant task for the vetting committee is to select the most suitable successor,” Bp Naimanhye said, before he gave the faithful the farewell package comprising six tools to enable the church to prevail.

“Number one, Love your God, number two, love the church, number three, love the Ministers, number four, give back to the church, number five, have stable marriages and number six, educate your children. That way, the church will progress to heights,” He said, before the congregants loudly chorused, “Ameeen.Amen…”

The Bishop’s message was backed by that of his wife, Florence Lydia Naimanhye, who thanked the church for supporting her husband (Bishop) to undertake and fulfil God’s Ministry.

Ten years of fervent service 

Elected ten years ago, Naimanhye has served beyond self, pitting his predecessors with new approaches that include adjusting the Church to modernity from old practices.

Naming some of Bishop’s scores at St. Mark Church-Kamuli, Ven. Rev. Moses Ssalongo Kisule Kasimizi, the clergy of Bukwenge Archdeaconry in Kamuli Municipality, Kamuli district, appreciated the way Naimanhye has parented the flock, including the shaping of young Ministers.

Rev Kasimizi said that the cumulative Anglican population manifests that the Bishop’s tenure has been productive, thus a growing church, the reason why the Bishop carved two more Dioceses from the mother diocese to extend services nearer the people.

“We now have the mother Busoga Diocese, Central Busoga Diocese and East Busoga Diocese,’ Kasimizi said, adding that on top of that, Archdeaconries have been split to form parishes.

The Bishop’s tenure also established Theological schools that have shaped the young Ministers taking over the Archdeaconries and Parishes.

To keep the youth and middle-aged from defecting to the mushroomed Born Again / Pentecostal churches, Naimanhye introduced the “Praise and Worship” style, likened to the former’s style of praise.

In the process, the Bishop okayed singing songs featuring “Born Again“ rhythms, lyrics and clapping in Church services, accelerated use of organs (Ennanga) and local musical instruments like drums and flutes, backed by vigorous dancing and jumping.

And like the Born Again do, the Anglican church also holds Christmas and end-of-year fetes at archdeaconry and parish levels, to restrain the flock from temptations and pitfalls.