UGANDA: Prelate Encourages Young People to Ascertain Each Other’s Health before Marriage
By Masereka Peter
The Local Ordinary of the Diocese of Kasese, Uganda Bishop. Francis Aquirinus Kibira Kambale has warned the youth against commitment to marry people they have not ascertained their health status.
Bishop Kibira said other than testing for sexual transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS, the intending couples should scan for other internal organs without which women are not able to conceive, thus, calling for gaps in their marriages.
This year’s youth conference at Kyalhumba Parish which was celebrated from 29th March-2 April 2023 under the theme “Mary arose with haste” marked the second consecutive annual youth conference since the lockdown.
In his Homily while presiding over Holy Mass that Closed a four days diocesan youth conference held at Kaghema Primary School in Kyalhumba Parish, Bishop Kibira later argued parents and guardians against rushing for bride price without medical tests since some young ladies have engaged in abortions that end up affecting their dream for babies leading to domestic violence and divorce.
Bishop Kibira called for hard work among Christians noting that laziness deprive some of them from making good use of the fertile soils in Kasese.
The Church leader cautioned the youths against Drug abuse and Alcoholism, saying they are at a risk of damaging their internal parts should they continue over taking drugs.
Bishop Kibira who decried about the increasing cases of teenage pregnancies and early marriages among the youth, warned Boda-Boda cyclists who have taken advantage to win young girls after giving them money and small gifts.
The Prelate asked the youth with land to plant coffee and make use of the available cooperative society in Kyalhumba that is exporting coffee to foreign countries to get money.
Kibira who warned the youth against receiving money and gifts from people who may want to lure them into homosexuality urged the youth to properly utilize the available resources to accumulate wealth, where as to the married couples to have love, play their parental obligation and desist against domestic violence.
He urged school administrators to check anti-social behaviors and pornography that are usually pinned in schools.
Rev. Fr. Joseph Tumusiime the Diocesan youth chaplain, described homosexuality as behavior against the African cultural norms and values that should be denounced in Uganda and Kasese at large.
Hon. Florence Kabugho, the Kasese Woman MP warned parents and guardians against individuals and civil society organizations who take advantage of their vulnerability to promote homosexuality.
Hon. Florence asked the youth to make good use of the lesson taught, before asking the girl child top use the conference to shape their future.
Hon. Harold Tonny Muhindo, the MP for Bukonzo County East asked the majority youth to engage in productive work for a promising future.
Shortly after Mass, Bishop Kibira announced changes in date of the diocesan youth conference from Palm Sunday to the month of January to cater for school going youth.
He also announced the next youth conference to be hosted by Nsenyi Parish from 10th -14th January 2024.
The Kyalhumba Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Cosmas Asaba asked the Bishop and stakeholders to support St. Mpaga skills development center owned by the Parish, with aim to skill the youth and school dropout.
Rev. Fr. Deogratius Kiibi Katerega, a cleric from Kampala Archdiocese urged Young Men intending to marry to work hard or else they don’t deserve being husbands and fathers.
Fr. Kiibi was is the main facilitator at the diocese youth conference at Holy Trinity Kyalhumba, said some youth have complicated their lives over failure to make good use of their time.
While discussing courtship, Fr. Kiibi who however asked young ladies to be respectful, asked them during marriage time to target hardworking young men whose minds are geared to providing for and developing their families.
He also asked the young women to closely associate themselves with love for others, accommodative language and dressing code, domestic work, family management skills and discipline before thinking of marrying.
Fr. Kiibi who is Mpigi Parish Priest in Kampala Archdiocese urged them to interest in public speech and communication skills but also learn from past mistakes, which would help them compete for different leadership offices.
Fr. Kiibi asked the youth to voluntarily get involved in community work and church services as well as learn to live with others as brothers and sisters despite, color, religion and ethnicity.
