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RT. HON. Anita Annet Among, Speaker Parliament of Uganda has today mediated a religious conflict that had since 2019 inflamed tensions in a section of the Teso Sub Region. 
The conflict had for a long time pitted Christians of the Church of Uganda Kumi Diocese led by Rt. Rev Okwii Esakha against those of  the Reform Anglican Church led by Rt. Rev Charles Okunya, Upper Nile Diocese in the districts of Kumi, Bukedea and Ngora, prompting Speaker Anita Among to convene a meeting  between the  rival leaders with the view of reaching an agreeable solution. 
Speaking during a meeting that was attended by other leaders including the IGP, Ms Among, who also chaired the meeting, urged both Rt. Rev Okwii and Rt. Rev Okunya to calm the tensions by listening to each other as well as encouraging congregants to stop the fight and the violence that has already injured a number of people as well as causing insecurity in the three districts of Kumi, Bukedea and Ngora. 

“We must co-exist and deal with this hostility that is diving our people,’’ she said, noting that religious leaders should be a symbol of unity rather than seeking to divide people along religious, property or politics lines. 
The conflicted started after Reformed Anglican Church broke away from the Church of Uganda last year following the cancellation of the Rev Okunya’s election as the second Bishop of Kumi Diocese in 2019 and the subsequent consecration of Rev. Okwii in March last year. 
The House of Bishops had on November 19, 2019 elected Rev Okunya, but Christians petitioned the electorate, alleging that the Bishop-elect had falsified his age and engaged in extra-marital affair. 
He was subsequently replaced with Rev Okwi, which angered a section of Christians, resulting into sporadic episodes of violence in which a number of Christians have been injured while others have lost property. 

During the meeting, Ms Among urged the religious leaders to stop inflaming tensions, noting that: “Even where there have been misunderstandings, it is dangerous to choose a path that is first and foremost, against the ways of God, and outside the laws of the land.’’
A number of meetings have been held at different levels in an attempt to find a solution to the conflict but have not yielded much.  
However, the two Bishops – Rev Okwii and Rev Okunya – have agreed to reconcile and forge a way forward. 

The meeting was attended by the deputy inspector General of Police Maj Gen Katsigazi Tumusiime, who commended Ms Among for volunteering to mediate between the two parties. 
However,  he warned the religious leaders against continuing with the violence, failure of which will lead to arrests. 

‘’This is the first meeting of the many we have conducted that has yielded some positive results, however, I will not hesitate to arrests anyone if we register any more attacks  affiliated to any of the churches.’’ he said.

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APRIL 17, 2022  was Easter Sunday, the resurrection day of Jesus Christ.One very big lesson for us to learn is that, ‘We must obey God rather than worldly things. ‘
Although you are going through many hardships such as loans, family challenges, and anxiety, sickness, lack and loss of jobs among others, remain humble and be obedient to the risen Lord. 
Many will try to stop you or hinder your progress but our risen lord is encouraging us today to remain hopeful and continue spreading the gospel of True love, hope and peace since he is the way, the truth and Life.
Sometimes we behave like Simon Peter who had left his work of evangelization to go fishing, and in the end, he caught nothing. So, my dear brothers and sisters, we are called to remain hopeful and continue spreading the gospel message of hope, in order not to catch nothing. 
When we remain with him, and stay in him, he will surely reward us just like he did to his disciples. They caught many fish due to Jesus’ guidance. So, friend, don’t get bored and quit your family, job, or any hard situation due to challenges ABC-Z, stay around him, you will catch many opportunities. 
Life is a journey that needs patience to overcome it’s hardships like faith, we need to remain connected to Him. 
If you leave or accept any wrong directions due to pressure of the world you will catch nothing. Stay on the network of Christ.
Let us pray: ‘We pray for God’s providence and mercy in order to learn from Jesus and be humble like the disciples amidst of the challenges we encounter.’ Amen!
May Almighty God bless you in the name of the Father  the son and the Holy Spirit Amen.

The Writer is Rev. Dn. Andrew Ayebazibwe,  Kinyamatiska National Seminary

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LENT is a solemn 40-day period in the Church’s liturgical year in which we prepare ourselves spiritually for the great celebration of Easter. 
The tradition of celebration of Lent for forty days is drawn from the experience of Jesus, who spent forty days in the desert fasting and preparing himself for his public ministry.
The traditional spiritual practices of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving, are as simple as they are challenging. The forty-days of Lent are intended to renew and deepen our spiritual life through prayer, self-denial and generosity to those who are poor and in need. 
There is one more traditional Lenten practice that we should not overlook: penance.  Forgiving and being forgiven is the very essence of true conversion and during Lent, each of us take advantage of the opportunity to celebrate sacrament of reconciliation.
Most Christians tend to concentrate on the negative dimension of Lent – giving something up, abstaining from meat, fasting, etc. to be sure, these penitential practices are extremely valuable as a means of self-discipline. Nevertheless, a genuine Lenten spirituality should also focus on the positive: doing something extra for God and other people. Lent offers us wonderful opportunities to grow in our relationship with God, by giving extra time to prayer or Scripture reading.
The whole purpose of Lent is spiritual preparation for the coming of Christ in a new way into our lives at Easter, not beating ourselves up or feeling ashamed about our lack of spiritual progress. The deeper purpose is what is called a “metanoia,” a Greek word used often in the Gospels. That’s often translated as “repentance,” but its better translated as a complete change of mind and heart. So, it’s not about whether we were able to successfully give up chocolate, but whether our mind and heart are more willing to accept Jesus more fully into our lives.

These forty days of wandering, of being proved, of finding strength, and of bolstering faith are exactly what we need right now. From ashes and fasting to almsgiving and prayer, the spiritual deepening and awareness offered by the Lenten season invites us to a place of renewal, a place that, if we are honest, it wouldn’t hurt to spend some time in, individually and collectively these days.
We are dust. We were born and we will die. The life we live in between these two moments is God’s gift to us. Recognizing our humble beginnings and our mortality is part of embracing the Lenten call to renewal. Full engagement in the renewal Lent calls forth is about examining and recommitting to the practices that ground our faith and remind us who we are and who we are called to be.
The Lenten journey to conversion, which we undertake today with the entire Church, becomes, therefore, an auspicious occasion “an acceptable time” (2 Cor 6:2) – to offer ourselves once again as sons and daughters into God’s hands and to put into practice what Jesus says to us over and over again: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mk 8:34)
The celebration of Easter cannot be fully understood and experienced without first taking the necessary time for reflection and evaluation to determine where we spiritually and morally stand as individuals and as a community before God.
Christians would do well to embrace Lent in the spirit and mood of contemplation. Here is an opportunity to find again this excitement of bring a disciple of Christ. Let us use this Lenten season to reflect on our lives as Christians. May we all emerge from this season renewed, refreshed and rejuvenated in faith, spiritual life, and in our walk with God.

The Author Robert Bigwabwarugaba is a seminarian from Katigondo National Seminary
Email: robertbigawarugaba@gmail.com

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SHEIKH SHABAN Issa the secretary for Finance at Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) sheikh has warned regional secetaries against chicken being slaughtered especially in markets saying some are sometime stolen and this is unacceptable in Islam. He appealed to them to be more cautious.

Shaban said this during an induction organised by UMSC at Gadaffi National Mosque for all Halal secretaries in the Nine Muslim regions about the essences of halaal.

“Some of the Chicken you slaughter are stolen. This is Haram, you must be very careful.” Said Sheikh Shaban.

He told them that UMSC Halal Department is working closely with government through Ministry of Agriculture animal husbandry and fisheries to normalise all policies and strategies to enable Halal operations in Uganda.

“We however still have a challenge of lack of UMSC representative on the food technology committee to ascertain the Halal products in the country.” Said Sheikh Shaban, appealing to all regional Halal leaders to work closely with the people in their respective regions if they are to benefit them and maintain their leadership well.

The secretary for Halaal at Uganda Muslim supreme council sheikh Munil Sebintu expressed gratuity that 70% of the work adopted by halal department has been successful with the help of the government through ministries such as ministry of agriculture, animal and fisheries, ministry of health and ministry of local government which wrote letters to the department on behalf of uganda muslim supreme council expressing support for the department.

“UMSC Halal Department is going to embark on the process of registering UMSC Halal in International Halal certified bodies to enable Ugandan Muslim traders export their meat and foods in Arabian countries freely without interference.” Said Sheikh Sebintu.

Regional leaders who included Sheikh Abutwahiyu Abubakar Nakwasi secretary Halal for west Buganda region, Sheikh Adam Uthuman Nsubuga of Ankole Kigezi,sheikh Twaha Tamale from kampala,ismael Muhammad higenyi the halal secretary for Eastern and others said they have benefited from the induction.

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THREE Ugandan Quran reciters have qualified to represent the country at the continental Quran Competitions in Gabon in April 2020 after participating in Muhammed VI Foundation of African Oulema Quran competition on Friday at Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) Kampala Headquaters.
The local Quran competition that have been running for two days at UMSC conference Hall organised by Muhammad VI foundation of African Oulema and UMSC was intended to select three Quran reciters who will participate on the international level.
While officiating at the awarding ceremony His Eminence The Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubajje expressed gratitude towards Muhammed foundation for this initiative in Uganda which will see many Muslim scholars in Uganda participate in activities of promoting Quran on International level.
His Eminence also cautioned common muslims to desist from pronouncing themselves on matters that concerns doctrines and principles of Islam adding that this duty should be left to the learnt cleriks. “U don’t have authority to make fatuwas on matters of Islam, leave this to the learned sheikhs and respect them” Mufti said.

More than 100 Quran reciters participated in this competition and only 3 qualified to the continental level and will represent the country in Gabon in April.
This function was also graced by Chairman Umsc Dr Abdul Kadr Balonde, H.E 2nd Deputy Mufti of Uganda Shk Muhammad Ali Waiswa, Umsc Sec Gen Haj Ramathan Mugalu, kampala regional kadhi sheikh hamid kyewalyanga, busoga regional kadhis sheikh husein bowa and many others.

Ugandan Quran reciters have qualified to represent the country at the continental Quran Competitions in Gabon in April 2020 after participating in Muhammed VI Foundation of African Oulema Quran competition today.
The local Quran competition that have been running for two days at Umsc conference Hall organised by Muhammad VI foundation of African Oulema and Umsc was intended to select 3 Quran reciters who will participate on the international level.
While officiating at the awarding ceremony His.Eminence The Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubajje expressed gratitude towards Muhammad foundation for this initiative in Uganda which will see many Muslim scholars in Uganda participate in activities of promoting Quran on International level.
His.Eminence also cautioned common muslims to desist from pronouncing themselves on matters that concerns doctrines and principles of Islam adding that this duty should be left to the learnt cleriks. “U don’t have authority to make fatuwas on matters of Islam, leave this to the learned sheikhs and respect them” Mufti said.

More than 50 Quran reciters participated in this competition and only 3 qualified to the continental level and will represent the country in Gabon in April.
This function was also graced by Chairman Umsc Dr Abdul Kadr Balonde, H.E 2nd Deputy Mufti of Uganda Shk Muhammad Ali Waiswa, Umsc Sec Gen Haj Ramathan Mugalu, kampala regional kadhi sheikh hamid kyewalyanga, busoga regional kadhis sheikh husein bowa and many others.

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ABAYIZI abasoba mu 100 okuva mu masomero g’Obusiraamu ku Lwokutaana battunkidde ku kitebe kya Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) e Kampala mukadde, mu mpaka z’okusoma kkulaani okukkakkana nga ku bano, basatu be bayise mu kasengejja okukiikirira Uganda mu z’akamalirizo ezinaabeera mu kibuga Libreville eky’eggwanga lya Garbon nga 20/04/2020.

Abaalidde empanga kuliko; Sulaiman Sudaisi, Habib Wafula ne Bashir Abubaker.

Omukolo gw’okulangirira abawanguzi gwetabiddwako Mufti wa Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubajje eyasiimye ennyo Kabaka w’e Morocco, King Muhammed VI olw’okutandikawo enkola y’okuzza amaanyi mu bayizi abasoma Kkulaani mu Uganda nga ayitira mu kibiina kya Muhammed VI Foundation. 

Mubajje yagambye, “Ng’Abasiraamu ba Uganda, tuli basanyufu era twebaza Kabaka wa Morocco eyatandikawo enteekateeka y’okulaba ng’abayizi baffe bajjumbira okumanya n’okuyiga ekitaboekitukuvu Quran.”

Mufti Mubajje asabye Abasiraamu okukomya okutyoboola bamaseeka n’agamba nti kino kyekimu ku bivuddeko obutabanguko n’okulwanagana.

Mufti era asabye Abasiraamu okwewala ennyo okuyisa amateeka (Fatuwa) ku byebatamanyi nga baagala Abasiraamu bagagoberere kyeyagambye nti bangi bakozesa emitimbagano okusasaanya amawulire agobulimba ku biteekateeka nga bino.

“Ekiddiridde, kwekugwangana mu malaka, empalana mu Basiraamu ezitaggwa. ” Mufti Mubajje bweyategeezezza ku mukolo ogwabaddebadde mu kisenge ekituulamu enkiiko ku muzikiti gwa Gadaffi National Mosque. 

Sheikh Hatwib Mukuluwakika akulira ekitongole kya Daawa ku Uganda muslim supreme council yasabye abayizi abaakutte Quran okufaayo enyo okugikuuma.

Dr. Ibrahim Ssali, pulezidenti w’ekibiina kya Muhammad VI Foundation mu Uganda yagambye empaka z’okutegeka Quran Dr.Ibrahim ssali ategezeza nti enteekateeka z’okusoma Quran zatandika mwaka guwedde mu mawanga ag’enjawulo agabadde mu kibiina kino kyokka nga mu Uganda zezisookedde ddala olw’okuba yo yakegatta ku kibiina kino.

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