The Catholic Church in Bukoba is among the institutions seriously affected by the Bukoba quake which hit the region at the end of last week. The Earth quake was said to have weighed 5.7 Richter scale, the largest in recent times. According to the Auxilliary Bishop of Bukoba, Rt. Rev. Method Kilaini the earth quake caused damage to two Bishop’s Houses; Parish Buildings; Priests’ houses, Schools and St Augustine University of Tanzania –SAUT – Bukoba Campus among others.
Bishop Kilaini said that the damage also affected the oldest Church in the Region, Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, Kashozi. This church was built between 1892 and 1897. It suffered serious cracks that would necessitate its reconstruction.
The damages to the Bishops’ residences forced them to vacate their residences and look for accommodation elsewhere. The same was done for priests whose houses and property were destroyed by the quake lost their houses and their properties damaged. The Auxillary Bishop further noted that “it is not only the church that was affected but the entire community of Kashozi was affected, as some families were left homeless by the Earth Quake”
Bishop Kilaini said that emergency measures are being undertaken by the Catholic Diocese of Bukoba to rescue the Kashozi Parish Church building lest it fall down. “We also want to ensure that the two priests houses damaged are repaired so that Priest can go back and have a decent accommodation again,” he said.
By Sarah Pelaji, Kiongozi newspaper, TEC
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