UGANDA: Newly-elected Laity Council leader vows to improve Lay Apostolate’s role in the Church
The newly-elected President of the Uganda National Catholic Council of Lay Apostolate (UNCCLA), Gervase Ndyanabo has promised to work tirelessly to improve the role of the laity in the Apostolate of the Church.
Looking on is the Bishop Chairman of Lay Apostolate Commission
of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC), Rt. Rev Paul Ssemogerere,
also Bishop of Kasana-Luweero Diocese and Rev. Fr. Fred Tusingire,
the UEC-National Executive Secretary of Lay Apostolate
In an interview that was conducted on 8th, March, 2018, Ndyanabo said that the newly-elected UNCCLA executive committee has set a plan of action particularly for the first year to ensure the role of the laity is efficient and effective in all the 19 Dioceses.
“Since our Commissioning in January 2018 the main focus has been visibility and connecting with different groups, attending and representations at different celebrations and gatherings,” Ndyanabo said adding that “We agreed to prioritize connecting with the diocesan Councils of the Laity. We will visit all the 19 dioceses in the country and hold discussions on how to improve the role of the Laity in the Apostolate of the Church.”
The UNCCLA Executive Committee held their inaugural Planning Meeting earlier this month, since taking oath of office on January 24, 2018. They discussed a number of items ahead of their three-year term in office which includes outlining more clearly the roles and responsibilities of the UNCCLA executive, setting plan of Action particularly for the 1st year and administrative arrangements e.g. Bank Accounts and signatories issues.
Meanwhile, the Committee members also paid a courtesy call on H.E. Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala to seek his blessing as they assume their new roles and congratulate him on his 91st birthday and wish him good health and God’s blessings.
the new UNCCLA Executive Committee member after
the swearing in ceremony at the Uganda Catholic
Secretariat premises
The new UNCCLA leaders, who were recently elected for a three-year term, are Anthony Matega N. (Kampala Archdiocese) as Vice President, Richard Akena (Gulu Ecclesiastical Province) as Secretary; Augustine Murugahara (Kasese Diocese) as Vice Secretary and Paul Baliraine from Jinja Diocese as Treasurer. They will work closely alongside Ndyanabo.
In accordance with the UNCCLA Constitution, the new leaders will also work alongside the ex-officio members of the UNCCLA Executive Committee who include the National Executive Secretary of Lay Apostolate, the National Youth Coordinator, the National Youth Chaplain and the National Women Apostolate Organizing Secretary.
The main function of the Executive Committee is to coordinate and encourage collaboration among apostolic Laity organizations, and among all the lay faithful and its member organizations in different spheres of life including spiritual, political, economic, social and cultural.
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By Jacinta W. Odongo – Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
