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| Archbishop Bakyenga welcoming President Yoweri Museveni during the Occasion of his Episcopate Silver Jubilee Celebrations in Mbarara |
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commended Archbishop Paul K. Bakyenga of Mbarara Archdiocese for promoting unity and development among the people. The President was the Chief Guest at Archbishop Bakyenga’s Episcopal Silver Jubilee celebration on 20th June 2015 at Nyamitanga Cathedral in Mbarara.
President Museveni gave a gift of ten cows to Archbishop Bakyenga and announced donation of 80 million (USD 24,000) towards construction of a multibillion shopping Mall at Nyamitanga for the Archdiocese of Mbarara in commemoration of Archbishop Bakyenga’ 25 years of service as a Bishop. It will be called Archbishop Bakyenga Shopping Mall.
The President said that in his service, Archbishop Bakyenga has worked towards development and prosperity of the Church and his people in other fields like health and education. He has embraced religious tolerance, resisted religious sectarianism and diffused religious rivalries that characterized the region in post-independence Uganda.
He further said that by preaching unity and religious tolerance, Archbishop Bakyenga and his contemporaries were fulfilling God’s cardinal commandment of “love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as you love yourself”.
He appealed to the new generation of religious leaders to emulate that example. President Museveni further hailed Archbishop Bakyenga and the Catholic Church in general for being development oriented, citing the contributions of the Catholic Church in the education and health sectors and taking care of orphans and disadvantaged people in society.
On his part Archbishop Bakyenga hailed the support President Museveni and the Government has given him and the Catholic Church in Uganda. This has eased their service to the people and uplifted the image of the Catholic Church regionally and internationally.
The function was attended by thousands of people among whom were; several Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, Religious Leaders of all religious denominations from Uganda and the region.
By Sr. Mary Germina Keneema, Diocesan Executive Secretary for Social Communication Archdiocese of Mbarara
