‘Modernise Churches’

By Edris KisambiraCHURCHES need to blend convention and modernity to stem hordes of youths who are leaving to join other prayer houses. The Prime Minister, Prof. Apollo Nsibambi, said this at St. Rachel Bulange Church of Uganda in Mengo, on Sunday. He was guest of honour at the church’s silver jubilee celebrations.“The youth need to be kept here if the church is to have a future. We need to modernise and improve on the way we say prayer,” Nsibambi said.“The youth leave because you don’t keep time and because the hymns are the same over and over again,” he added.Nsibambi hailed the people who founded the church in 1977, among them his parents, saying they were like a lantern lighting a rough road for those who were trekking it. Nsibambi laid a foundation stone for a conference hall at the church premises. He pledged sh1.5m towards the construction of the hall. Nsibambi called on Anglican Church leaders to put in place income generating activities to alleviate poverty, which he said was the root cause of begging within the church. The laying of the stone was preceded by a service led by the retired Bishop of Mityana Diocese, Yokana Mukasa.Former head of state Godfrey Binaisa and the Member of Parliament for Rubaga North, Tom Kayongo were present.Ends