RELIGION | OFFERTORY | BUKOMEKO

MITYANA - The bishop of Mityana diocese Rt Rev Dr James Bukomeko has launched a campaign to start income generating projects through which they will raise money to sustain the church.

“The church cannot depend on only the money from offertory; there is a lot we can do and sustain the services. The lockdown period has given us a good experience,” he said.

He was on Saturday (February 27, 2021) addressing a congregation at the diocesan cathedral in Namukozi, at a function where he marked one year as a bishop of Mityana diocese.

He narrated the challenges he has met while serving in Mityana in the first year, and said that he ended up engaging in farming and burning charcoal to earn a living.

(L-R) Busoga Katikiro Joseph Muvawala, Communications Minister Judith Nabakooba, Retired Bishop Wilson Mutebi and Bishop James Bukomeko commissioning the Pennyslyvania House in Mityana town on Saturday (February 27, 2021). Photos by Luke Kagiri

“I had the time as churches were closed and we had useless trees. I had to burn charcoal, put up gardens as I preached,” he said.

Near his residence at Namukozi, Bukomeko has also put up a banana plantation and gardens of other crops like maize.

Before the Service at the Cathedral, Bishop Bukomeko was joined by other guests including the information minister Judith Nabakooba. They went to Mityana town and commissioned a new diocesan storage commercial building.

The Pennyslyvania House is at Banda Stage in the centre of Mityana town.

Nabakooba commended Bukomeko for the projects and said it is giving the diocese hope of development.

The construction of this building started last year shortly before Dr Samuel Steven Kaziimba left Mityana where he was the bishop.

During the service, Dr Bukomeko also announced and launched a project of construction of another multimillion commercial building in Mityana town.

He said they are starting with buying of plot of land at sh400m and construction will follow.

He asked the Christians to support the project, saying it is intended to help the diocese in its services.

The bishop of Mukono diocese James Ssebagala who was the preacher of the day asked Christians to always remain strong during times of challenges but to put trust in God.

Giving an example of how Bishop Bukomeko has gone through the lockdown period doing a lot of work yet churches were closed, Bishop Ssebagala asked Christians to be focused and have positive thinking.

“God will let you go through a challenge which you cannot handle. Never lose hope. When you miss an opportunity, do not cover your eyes with tears because you will also miss another opportunity,” he said.

Nabakooba commended Bukomeko for the projects and said it is giving the diocese hope of development.

“Religious institutions should not depend only on money from offertory or donations but can use the little they have to start a project from which they can raise some money as Bishop Bukomeko has done,” she said.