UGANDA: UEC Chairman Commends Women for Formation of Inaugural Catholic Women Council
The Chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC), Most Rev. John Baptist Odama, also Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese, has applauded Catholic women in Uganda for the formation of the first ever Catholic Women Council in the country.
The Council, dubbed Uganda Catholic Women Apostolate (UCWA) was formed in mid-2018 following a successful election that was held on 5th June 2018. A Nine-member Executive Committee was voted in to head various posts by women representatives from all the 19 dioceses in the country.
the bishops and donors
Speaking at Hotel Africana in Kampala during the UCWA launch event on Tuesday, 13th November 2018, Archbishop Odama said women are a very important segment of people in society and that everything starts and ends with them.
“On behalf of all the Catholic bishops from the 19 Dioceses, I take this opportunity to thank you for this great achievement. We all know that in the development and growth of humanity in this world, women have taken a leadership role, whether at home in the family setting, at work, or in the community at large. Women have done a lot in the history of humanity; they have contributed a lot in promoting people’s welfare,” Archbishop Odama said.
The Archbishop welcomed the new leaders noting that their election is a landmark in many respects. He revealed that the bishops will give them support so that they can contribute positively to the Catholic Church in Uganda. The prelate also challenged men who were in attendance to borrow a leaf from the women and initiate a men’s Catholic council to help fellow men grow spiritually, financially and economically.
In his keynote address, the Executive Secretary of the Lay Apostolate Department, Rev. Fr. Fred Tusingire, who spearheaded the formation of the Women Council, expressed gratitude to all the bishops for endorsing UCWA.
“This is a very historical event because for the first in Uganda Catholic Church history, we see women coming together to build up their capacity of women apostolate in this country. We are grateful to the bishops for validating this council,” he explained.
The UCWA executive will be under the leadership of Gidudu Asumpta as Chairperson, Sarah A. Ekumu as Vice Chairperson, Gorret Kugonza as Secretary, Dorah Balloja as Vice Secretary and Irene Labwoti as Treasurer.
Others Executive Board members are: Harriet Lumumba representing Kampala Ecclesiastical Province; Ana O. Lumumba representing Gulu Ecclesiastical Province; Sophie Mbonigaba representing the Ecclesiastical Province of Mbarara; and Sara Akelo representing the Ecclesiastical Province of Tororo.
The Executive Committee is expected to help women to develop economically, socially and spiritually; to empower women through retreats; to educate women on parenting; to help women towards receiving Sacraments; and to help each other as women so as to develop their potential.
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By Jacinta W. Odongo, Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
