Namirembe diocese staff on forced leave

Jul 29, 2020

One of the affected staff said they had each been paid sh200,000 to cater for them during their leave.

RELIGION | COVID-19

Namirembe Diocese yesterday sent over 15 staff on indefinite leave after the church ran out of funds to cater for salaries and allowances for their employees.

New Vision has learnt that the affected staff first met the head of the diocese, Bishop Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira, who communicated to them the position of the church before they received letters signed by the Rev. Canon Nelson Kaweesa, the diocesan secretary, directing them to go on leave effective August 3.

One of the affected staff said they had each been paid sh200,000 to cater for them during their leave.

Some of those affected include staff from the education sector, health, mission, youth, finance and administration.

In the letter dated July 27, to one of the affected staff, the diocese noted that the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures put in place by the Government have greatly affected the programmes and activities of the church and, inevitably, the diocesan Secretariat.

"The above state of affairs has had a drastic and adverse effect regarding the financial position and standing of Namirembe Diocese and its organs, including the diocesan secretariat," Kaweesa stated.

Sources in the diocese who spoke to New Vision said the operation of the church had been greatly affected following President Yoweri Museveni's directives in March, this year, banning gatherings in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19.

"Most of our activities were funded through tithes and offerings that were collected from all the churches within the diocese. We now don't have the funds," the source revealed.

He said following a series of meetings and wide consultations, the human resource board of Namirembe resolved that some members of staff will be required to take leave for such a period of time, until the current situation changes for the better.

"Further, and in light of the effect of the financial position of the diocesan secretariat, which has been referred to, there will be no payment for salaries during this period of leave.

The position has been taken bearing in mind that there will be expenses to incur and because of the greater need to maintain the diocese through the secretariat as a growing concern," the letter reads.

"The board remains hopeful that the situation will change for the better that later and all the members of staff will return to their places of work," Kaweesa further stated.

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