Christian students off to celebrate new year in Mombasa

By Solomon Muyita A TOTAL of 27 students from various Kampala schools on Thursday left for Mombasa, Kenya for a week's tour and education based on the justice and peace initiatives. The students, who are members of the Young Christian Students Movement (YCS), were expected to meet their peers to discuss a number of issues concerning justice and peace in East Africa. They were also expected to indulge in other activities such as sports and to have Solemn Eucharist celebrations, which will be held today. The trip was organised and sponsored by the Kampala archdiocese. Fr. Joseph Lumanyika and the Archdiocesan Youth Chaplain, led the students who set off, from the Youth Sharing Hall at Nsambya. Their discussions were set to be spearheaded by their a Mr. and Miss Justice and Peace, who are currently Herman Bagonza, S5, Makerere College School and Immaculate Awori, S6, Rubaga Girls School. Fr. Lumanyika said that the students are put under such programmes to shape them on how to handle various social evils in the society because they are the future leaders. "Since all these students have got differences in areas such as education, religion, family and cultural backgrounds, they need to put them together to overcome the social evils in the society. "Our social evils cannot know our differences, that why we may need a common front," Lumanyika said. Students came from Makerere and Nkumba Universities, St. Balikudembe Mitalamaliya, Gayaza High School, St. Peter's Secondary School Nsambya, and some programme coordinators from the Youth office at the Youth Sharing Hall at Nsambya. The Archdiocese invited participants from the YCS member schools and at least five student leaders from each school were forwarded to participate in the tour. Such trips have been taking place annually for the last three years. Various students have visited countries like Italy, Rwanda, and Canada, to discuss justice and peace. Another group is expected to visit Toronto in Canada in the near future. Ends.