By Emmanuel Olinga
The Parish Priest of St. Stephen Catholic Parish, Katakwi, Soroti Diocese, has called upon Christians and political leaders to seek God’s blessings by contributing to the construction of churches.
His comments comes at a time when Daniel Mulalu, the Private Secretary in Charge of Political Mobilization and Affairs in the President’s Office and an aspirant for the Ngariam County seat pledged to continue offering support to churches and mosques in Ngariam County.
Rev. Fr. Olivier Uwayezu, the Dean of Katakwi Deanery and Parish Priest of St. Stephen Catholic Parish, expressed joy and gratitude to Mulalu for the support of 282 iron sheets to support the roofing of St. John Catholic Church in Kaikamosing.
He noted that the donation was timely, as the congregation had been struggling for years to raise the necessary funds to finish the project.
“When you help the church, you invite God’s blessings into your life. We will continue to pray for you,” said Rev. Fr. Uwayezu.
The construction of St. John Catholic Church began in 2005 but had been delayed for nearly two decades due to financial constraints.
The project faced numerous challenges, including raising over UGX 100 million for completion.
However, Mulalu’s intervention, through the provision of 282 brown iron sheets (gauge 28), brought renewed hope to the church community.
Albert Atala, the chairperson of the construction committee, highlighted the financial struggles that had hindered progress.
He revealed that, so far, the church has received over UGX 50 million in funding but still requires an additional UGX 50 million for completion.
“To complete this church, we need 350 bags of cement, 20 trips of murrum, 10 trips of lintel, 50 trips of sand, 13 windows, and five doors, among other construction materials,” Atala explained.
Mulalu, a native of Acegelekinei village in Ngariam, stated that his donation was in response to requests from Christians who had been praying under a makeshift grass-thatched structure since 1989.
Recognizing the difficulties faced by both Anglican and Catholic churches in the area, he pledged further support.
“When they told me about their struggle, I felt compelled to help. I spent 14 million shillings to ensure they have a proper place of worship,” Mulalu said.
He also promised to send a contractor in April to assess and install windows for the church.
Christians in the community, including Betty Abur Okumu and Albert Atala, hailed Mulalu as a beacon of hope for Ngariam County.
They acknowledged his contributions, not only to the church but also to the broader community through various development initiatives.
“Mulalu has been a great blessing to us. His generosity and vision are transforming both the church and our community,” said Abur Okumu.
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