Archbishop Odama urges MPs to ally with God

KAMPALA-The Archbishop of Gulu, John Baptist Odama has urged MPs to be in alliance with God while making laws for Uganda.

"MPs make important laws for Uganda. If you are to make good laws you should be in alliance with God. If not you will make laws that will make people knock each others heads, being in conflict," Odama said.

Archbishop Odama delivered this message call while leading Mass on Ash Wednesday at Parliament in the evening.

Parliament had to adjourn business to enable the mass take place. Some MPs had wanted business to continue but their colleagues prevailed over them to enable issues with God come first. He asked MPs to be strong examples of leaders that Ugandans look for.

Odama called on Christians to repent and reconcile with God, with self and with the environment during Lent. "This day is an important one for the season because it begins the preparations for the greatest feast in the church which is Easter," said Odama.

The Archbishop reiterated the Pope's message for Lent, where he states that the 40 days of fasting were a sacramental sign of conversion with a call for fasting, prayer and almsgiving.

Odama said the ash on foreheads of the Christians on Ash Wednesday symbolised the fragility and mortality of man, who need God's presence to maintain steadfast faith.

"Prayer teaches us to abandon idolatry and acknowledge our need for mercy whereas almsgiving helps us to escape the illusion of hoarding everything to ourselves," Odama said.

Odama also expressed concern over the growing trend of sex education in schools which he observed had influenced kindergarten going children through the new media.

"Lent this year should bring hope of Christ to promote liberation of children of God," said the Archbishop, adding that "we should ask God to help us seek out the true path of conversion and attend to our brothers and sisters in need."

Members of Parliament and the congregation contributed sh44.5 million in cash and pledges towards the Martyrs' day celebrations that is being led by Gulu Archdiocese. Ash Wednesday is a Christian holy day of prayer, fasting and repentance. Martyr's Day will be celebrated on Monday 3rd June this year.

Uganda Martyrs' Day celebrates Christians who were persecuted for their Christian beliefs on orders of Kabaka Danieri Basammula-Ekkere Mwanga Mukasa II between November 1885 and January 1887