Lumumba offers to renovate Soroti bishop's residence
May 23, 2019
The function was graced by prominent personalities like the Secretary General of NRM, Rt Hon Justine Kasule Lumumba, the President of FDC Patrick Oboi Amuriat and the Hon Proscovia Salaam Musumba.
Christians of Soroti Catholic diocese are in a cheerful mood as they await the consecration of their new bishop, the Rev Msgr Joseph Eciru.
The function will take place at Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Soroti, on Saturday (May 25), starting at 10:00am. President Yoweri Museveni is expected to be the chief guest. Prior to his episcopal appointment, Msgr Eciru, a Biblicist, was a teacher at St Mary's National Major Seminary, Ggaba.
As one of the activities to raise money for his consecration, Catholics affiliated to Soroti diocese, organised a thanksgiving and send-off function for Eciru at St Gonzaga Gonza Catholic Sub-parish church, Kireka on Sunday. Operating under their umbrella organisation, Soroti Catholic Diocese Laity Association (SCALA), they managed to raise sh38m, in cash and pledges.
The function was graced by prominent personalities like the Secretary-General of NRM, Rt Hon Justine Kasule Lumumba, the President of FDC Patrick Oboi Amuriat and the Hon Proscovia Salaam Musumba.
The Chairman of Tororo Ecclesiastical Province Association of the Laity, Ssalongo Robert Kamiza said the entire ecclesiastical province of Tororo was in a joyful and expectant mood for Msgr Eciru. He asked the Christians to warmly welcome and work in solidarity with Eciru.
"We were all excited when we heard the appointment of our own. He is young, dynamic and development-oriented. He is a humble and practical prelate. Let us support him in his ministry for the good of the diocese, the province, and the country," Kamiza said.
During the function, a total of sh38m was realised in cash and pledges. Among the donors was the head of the Catholic Laity of Uganda and Company Secretary of Vision Group, Gervase Ndyanabo, who donated sh300,000. Hon Kasule Lumumba offered to renovate, refurbish and equip the Bishop's official residence, which Msgr Eciru is going to occupy.
Soroti Christians to accord Eciru grand-reception
Prior to his consecration on Saturday, Msgr Eciru will be received by the Christians in Soroti on Thursday, May 23.
Kamiza again explained: "As of now, Msgr Eciru is still at Ggaba where he has been teaching. We shall take him, in procession, to Soroti on Thursday. We have called this function, the Grand Entry in Soroti.
Subsequent to his consecration on Saturday, Msgr Eciru (49) will become the third Bishop of Soroti after Bishop Emeritus Erasmus Wandera and Archbishop Emmanuel Obbo, who is currently the Prelate of Tororo Archdiocese.