Religion

To understand how today’s youth perceive the legacy of these martyrs, we spoke to some Uganda Christian University (UCU) students. Their reflections suggest that the fire of 1886 has not gone out, it has simply changed form.

As a journalist, I am not outside this reflection. Our profession is meant to speak uncomfortable truths. But we do not always succeed. The pressures are real from economic to political and sometimes to personal fears.

While growing up, Beatrice Masendi says some aspects of Christian salvation did not make much sense to her. And that forced her to begin equating her faith to politics. All this happened despite Masendi being a child of a lay reader. Lay readers are non-clergy who are authorized to preach and to conduct some religious services, but are not permitted to celebrate the Eucharist.

“Mwami ssuuna, mbadde nsaba kwogerako nawe.” 

A tall woman I’d never seen spoke Luganda.  Translated to English, the message was: “Mr. Ssuuna, I would like to talk to you.”

The Uganda Christian University (UCU) School of Business hosted a worship night at Nkoyoyo Multipurpose Hall, which was attended by a number of students and other staff members. The Nkyoyo hall was packed to capacity, and the topic of the day was “True Worship,” as quoted in John 4:24. According to a few students that attended the worship night,

Many members of the UCU community often participate in the activities of the day at the Uganda Martyrs Shrine on June 3. For instance, for this year’s event, Wabulo, Bishop Joel Obetia, Dr. Isabirye Moses, the Rev. Richard Mulindwa and the entire Church Relations Department joined the organizers at Namugongo. Theology students at UCU served as ushers at the prayers. 

As Rev. Dr. Lydia Kitayimbwa recently shifted her duties from the Uganda Christian University (UCU) chaplaincy to chaplain for St. Francis Chapel, Makerere University, she received significant accolades from members of the clergy and academic faculty. At that, her favorite professional title is “digital mama.”  She got that nickname from youth engaged in on-line church.