SOUTH SUDAN: Catholic Bishop Awards 250 Best Performers of the Year.
Bishop Edwardo Hiiboro Kussala Bishop of Tambura Yambio
The Bishop Awards of excellence is an initiative of the Catholic Bishop of Tambura Yambio Diocese, Rt. Rev. Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, aimed at acknowledging the good deeds by individuals and organizations geared towards peace and development and to encourage reconciliation and unity in the region. This season, the Bishop has given out awards to over 200 people and organizations in a colourful ceremony that was held in Yambio town on 15th December.
Speaking at the occasion, Speaker of Parliament for Western Equatoria State Rt. Honourable Lona Bona who represented those who received awards appreciated the bishop for standing by his people during the times of unrest and heading the various dialogue and negotiation meetings to ensure peace reigns again in the greater Equatoria Region.
“We thank you Lord Bishop for having stood by the people of greater Western Equatoria. You worked with late Bishop Peter Munde and rescued some key government people from the hands of our brothers and sisters in the bush. You have mobilized resources to work for peace in our State.”
Lona appreciated the Bishop for serving his community unreservedly together with the late Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Peter Munde.
“On this day we are so grateful as nominees and, your Lordship, what we have is our humility to serve our community, and we are humbled by these nominations,” she added.
Hon. Lona added that during difficult times in the greater Equatoria State, Bishop Hiiboro worked together with the current governor H.E Daniel Badagbu who by then was a mayor, to bring peace in areas that are very difficult by spearheading negotiations.
“We thank the bishop for spearheading various negotiations to rescue many key government officials from our brothers and ensure that they returned home safely. We have nothing really to give you but we just pray for God’s blessing and say ‘thank you’ for sacrificing his life for a greater call.” Said Lona
She expressed that the awards mark the beginning of a new era of better services in the community with diligence and humility, adding that let them encourage peaceful coexistence since the community of Western Equatorial are peace loving people.
“The awards that have been given to us today mark the beginning of better services to our community from today on wards. They are not just to recognize our services to the community but also to encourage us to humble ourselves and serve more our people in love, unity, peace and togetherness.”
Lona appealed to the people of Greater Equatoria to embrace the peace that has come following the recent signing of the agreement. She urged all to own the signed peace agreement and mobilize more people to bring peace to the region and country as whole.
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Source: Communication office, Tambura-Yambio Diocese
