Christians raise red flag over stalled Shs5b Church plaza

A section of Christians in West Buganda Anglican Diocese has raised a red flag over the stalled Church project in Masaka Town.
The construction of the three-storied commercial plaza on Plot 17, Edward Avenue, was started in 2011 with an expectation of fetching income for the diocese.
The Christians claim a lot of funds were mobilised during the leadership of late Bishop Godfrey Makumbi, which enabled construction works to commence.
However, they are wondering why the project stalled after his demise in June 2015, which may lead to an escalation of costs and contractual claims. Bishop Makumbi succumbed to throat cancer at the Uganda Cancer Institute, Mulago National Referral Hospital.

Mr Fred Musinguzi, a Christian from Sembabule Archdeaconry, says since the project was initiated, a number of Church assets, which included a cattle ranch in Sembabule District, have been sold to raise money, which the diocesan leadership has reportedly failed to account for.
“Failure to give proper accountability indicates lack of transparency and this has discouraged Christians from contributing towards the completion of the project because they think their money was misappropriated,” Mr Musinguzi says.
Symbion Uganda Limited, a private construction firm, was contracted to construct the plaza at Shs5 billion.

And before construction works stalled, the diocese had come up with different strategies of raising the funds. Before the late Bishop Makumbi assumed office in 2011, at least Shs2.5 billion had been realised by his predecessor, Bishop Samuel Keefa Kamya Ssemakula, after selling the diocese’s two-square-mile cattle ranch in Ntuusi Sub-county, Sembabule District. He had also embarked on plans to obtain a loan from the Eastern and Southern African Trade Development Bank, (PTA) for the same.
Mr Jonan Jjumba, a catechist at Sembabule Archdeaconry, says Christians in the area lost hope after the Ntuusi cattle ranch was sold off by the diocese to facilitate the construction of the commercial plaza but the money was not accounted for.

“On the ranch, there were about 250 cows and 600 goats, which were donated to the Church by catechists in the entire archdeaconry, but the animals were sold off by the diocesan leaders who claim to have used the money on the construction of the plaza, which stalled,” Mr Jjumba says.
He alleges that from the time Bishop Makumbi was bed-ridden, fundraising for the project stopped until the installation of the current Bishop, the Rev Henry Katumba - Tamale, in August 2016.
During his tenure, Bishop Makumbi oversaw the construction of the diocesan headquarters at Kako, renovation of the cathedral and identified sponsors for a number of projects in the diocese. At the time of his death, he had embarked on the construction of the plaza.
However, Canon Enock Muhanguzi, the diocesan spokesperson, says the idea to construct the Church plaza started way back during the leadership of Bishop Kamya who also mobilised some funds to kick start the project.
He adds that Bishop Kamya superintended the sale of Ntuusi cattle ranch whose proceeds were used in the construction of hostels at Ndejje University, Luweero District, where the diocese also gets income.

“We have laboured to give accountability during various meetings and fellowships; it is only that some Christians just want to complain all the time. Of course, we cannot stop them [Christians] from talking , even Jesus was doubted by his own disciple (Timothy) but that never distracted him from doing his work,” Rev Muhanguzi said, adding that they will continue giving accountability of the funds they collect even when some Christians do not want to listen.
Currently, Bishop Katumba is embarking on mobilising more funds for the project from churches under the diocese amid resistance from some Christians.
According to Rev Muhanguzi, more than Shs3 billion is still needed to complete the project.

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