Lwanga: 'Stop speaking ill against other religions'

By Juliet Lukwago

KAJJANSI - Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga has warned people who speak ill against other peoples’ religions as a way of trying to convert them.

He said this while leading prayers in a Holy Mass at the Queen of Peace Shrine at Kiwamirembe in Kajjansi on Friday.

The ceremony was held to mark the Assumption, a day as believed by Catholics when the the Virgin Mary was taken into Heaven after her earthly life.

Thousands of believers trekked up the hill to the holy shrine to attend the prayers.

Notable at the religious event was Buganda Kingdom premier (katikiro) Charles Peter Mayiga and Wakiso district chairman Matia Lwanga Bwanika.

The occasion doubled as the marking of 25 years since the Queen of Peace Shrine was founded by the late Rev Fr John Bernardine, a former parish priest of Lweza.
 

true
Archbishop Lwanga led prayers at a Mass attended by thousands of people. PHOTO/Juliet Lukwago

While delivering his message, Archbishop Lwanga spoke of blasphemous preaching, advising preachers who do that to instead concentrate on “telling the people what they believe in”.

He said people should avoid talking about what they do not know about other religions.

“As for me, I cannot go anywhere and start talking what I do not know or about other peoples’ religion,” said the cleric.

The choir of the Sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary Reparatrix of Gogonya-Kisubi led the hymns.

Lwanga also warned the congregations against “bafere” (masqueraders) who he said have a habit of approaching people and lying to them that they had visions (spiritual encounters with God).

He told of situations where such people sell oils and other items to unsuspecting people expensively, claiming that such stuff works miracles.

“Every diocese gives out the holy oil once a year on only the Holy Thursday and it is only given out and it is not sold as the fake people do.

“However, I am not saying that all oils are fake, but the people who use oils for purposes of enriching themselves should be guarded against.”
 

true
The ceremony was at the Queen of Peace Shrine at Kiwamirembe in Kajjansi. PHOTO/Juliet Lukwago

On his part, Katikkiro Mayiga joked that although he had gone to many places collecting "etoffaali” (brick) for the Kasubi Tombs, “I have, however, today come to collect the ‘toffaali ery’omwoyo’”, literary meaning the brick of the spirit.

With the numerous challenges in this world, he said, Christians should invoke the Virgin Mary to intercede for them, and assured them that the mother of Jesus Christ would not forsake them.

The premier shared his won experience.

“When I fell into problems some time back, I recited one prayer ‘Queen of Mercy…’ which helped me to overcome them.

“One day a child of my sister swallowed a nail and it needed operation. But, when my mother started invoking the Virgin Mary, the child miraculously threw up the nail.”