Christians disagree on memorial mass for Bishop Drandua

ARUA. Christians in Arua diocese have failed to disagree on holding a memorial mass for the late Emeritus bishop Fredrick Drandua. A section of the Christians has accused the Resident District Commissioner Mr Peter Debele and the Police of fueling conflicts between them and Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki.

They accuse the RDC of being partisan and weighing behind bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki of Arua diocese to block them from arrangements to organise first memorial prayers to mark the passing on of Drandua.

During a meeting convened by the West Nile Regional Police Commander, Mr Jonathan Musinguzi on Thursday, the Christians said their attempts to hold meetings at Don Dino Orphanage centre where the late bishop used to reside had been foiled by the police.

“It is in African tradition to remember the loved ones, even if I die today, my children would like to remember me through prayers. But you allow the meetings to continue with the processes, we all know the procedures of the Church,” Dr Paul Onzubo, one of the Christians appealed.

The police had blocked earlier meetings for the memorial mass claiming they received directives to stop the meeting. But Mr Debele said: “We received intelligent information about two or three weeks ago that there were three groups of people organising the same memorial mass and as security, we have to take measures and that is why we have called you here, we want peace in the diocese.”

However, the district police commander Mr Gad Murungi said they had received a correspondence from the bishop that some people were inviting Christians for meetings to commemorate the first anniversary of the passing on of Bishop Drandua without his knowledge.

In a letter dated August 14, 2017 and signed by Bishop Sabino, he directs all parish priests to be careful about any announcement not made by parish priests about the mass for the late bishop.
“Any other communication or announcement not approved or not made by the parish priest should be taken with caution. We want peace in our diocese of Arua. We need to give honour and respect to our late bishop Fredrick Drandua,” the letter reads in part.

However, Mr Martin Andua Drani, the Chairman of the organising committee said: “Those who don’t want us to organise prayers for the late bishop are people who have got eternal hatred for him. But we notified the parish priest of Ediofe parish about these meetings, we are carrying on with the legacy of peace which Fredrick left to us, he was a man of peace and a gift to humanity who should be remembered.”