By Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu,
RUKUNGIRI
Bishop Calist Rubaramira, the Bishop of Kabale diocese, has urged the parish council to take bold action against poverty in the Kigezi sub-region. Addressing a congregation of thousands at St Peter’s parish Buyanja, he revealed a staggering increase in poverty from 12% to 27% in recent years.
Bishop Calist emphasized the need for families to double their income to cope with the rising cost of living. He tasked the parish council to visit families and teach them income-generating skills to escape the poverty trap. This call to action comes as 230 Christians were confirmed, marking a significant step towards empowering the community.
The bishop reminded the newly confirmed Christians to utilize the gift of the Holy Spirit to spread God’s word and live according to Christian values. He also encouraged parents to be a shining light in their homes, guiding their families towards a brighter future.
Neema Jane, the chairperson of the parish council, expressed gratitude to Bishop Calist for his visit and reported on the parish’s progress since its establishment in October 2023. She highlighted challenges facing the new parish, including limited land, inadequate water harvesting facilities, difficulties in registering marriages due to the lack of a land title, limited seats in the church, lack of enough pit latrines to accommodate the increasing number of people among others.
Hon. Medius Kaharata, the Rukungiri district woman MP, congratulated Bishop Calist on completing his tour of Rukungiri district, where he confirmed over 800 Christians. She urged Christians to embrace government programs like PDM and youth livelihood initiatives to double their income, as emphasized by the bishop. Hon. Kaharata thanked the people of Rukungiri for entrusting her to represent them in the 11th Parliament and pledged to continue supporting St Peter’s parish and other churches in the district.
This joint call to action by Bishop Calist and Hon. Medius Kaharata marks a significant step towards empowering the community to overcome poverty and build a brighter future.
