Bishop vows to sack lazy clergymen

By Tobbias Owiny

Northern Uganda Diocese Bishop Johnson Gakumba has said lazy church leaders will be sacked, saying he had communicated the directive to all church officials in the diocese.

He said those who will not reside in their parishes with effect from next year will also be relieved of their responsibilities.

“As shepherds, they need to stay with believers of the Church and support them, find out who has problems and encourage them,” he said.

Gakumba said he has learnt that some church officials commute from Gulu town to the rural areas where they were deployed.

He was earlier this week delivering a sermon at Keyo Musalaba, where the first missionaries from the African Inland Mission opened a station in Acholi in 1904.

He also urged believers to support church leaders in their parishes.

But other church leaders, Canon Willy Odora and the Rev. Alex Opiyo, said some areas where the church leaders are deployed have no accommodation.

Sports state minister Charles Bakkabulindi, who was the chief guest at the event, warned elected leaders against politicking over government programmes like Universal Primary Education, Universal Secondary Education and the National Agriculture Advisory Services.

During the event, eight canons were consecrated, a couple wedded and several children confirmed.