Repent on kidnaps - archbishops

Kampala.

Catholic and Anglican archbishops yesterday united to plead with Ugandans to seek God and repent over the spate of kidnaps and killings across the country.
The archbishops and faithful held joint afternoon prayers at both the Anglican and Catholic martyrs’ shrines at Namugongo, on the outskirts of Kampala city, ahead of Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations on Sunday.
During a joint service at the Anglican Shrine, Kampala Catholic Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga asked Ugandans to repent over the widespread kidnaps and killings of women and children.
“We have lost many people through kidnaps and murder. We need to use this time to repent. We need to ask God to forgive us because we have sinned in different ways,” Dr Lwanga said.

Fighting the evil
“The martyrs suffered because of their faith and as the Joint Christian Council, we need to take this time not to preach to convert people to our religions but bring ourselves together to fight against the ongoing evil in our country,” he said.
At another separate joint Mass at the Catholic shrine, Anglican Archbishop Stanley Ntagali echoed Dr Lwanga’s call to Ugandans to repent.
“What is our purpose as the Church when there are all these murders and kidnaps? We call upon security organs to quickly bring this mess to its end. We are living in an evil world and we need to help each other and encourage ourselves to repent,” he said.
Archbishop Ntagali said Ugandans need time to reflect on their lives and what is happening in the country.
Earlier, the Catholic Church had announced it will dedicate this year’s Martyrs Day celebrations to petitioning God to protect Uganda against the kidnaps and killings.
While presiding over the first Mass upon arrival of more than 7,000 pilgrims from Tororo Archdiocese at Namugongo Martyrs Shrine yesterday, the Rev Fr Michael Kibiye asked the pilgrims to plead against the worrying spate of kidnaps and killings.
“God does not grant someone favour before taking them through suffering. Our prayer now should be that God grants us the grace to go through this kind of suffering, especially the killings and kidnaps in the country at the moment,” Fr Kibiye said. “There is what we call red martyrdom and white martyrdom; the former involves blood while the latter could be psychological. What Uganda is suffering now is white martyrdom, and the Pope (Francis) has referred to it as heroic virtue,” he added.
Tororo Catholic Archbishop Emmanuel Obbo, who received the pilgrims who braved a mid-morning drizzle yesterday, encouraged them to use the time for repentance and supplication to the Lord.

Tororo pilgrims arrive
“Welcome to Namugongo; I would like to encourage you to pray and stay focused on seeking God to help you in all you are praying for,” Archbishop Obbo said.
The Rev Fr Kibiye said they will soon get a communication of who will be representing the Vatican at the ceremonies, but said the Papal Nuncio to Uganda, Archbishop Michael Blume, will be at the celebrations.
Other dignitaries expected are President Museveni, MPs from the constituencies within Tororo Archdiocese, ministers and registered pilgrims from Zimbawe, Burundi, South Africa, Nigeria, America, and Japan.