Minister for Presidency Hon. Ester Mbayo yesterday represented President Yoweri Museveni at a fundraising for the construction of the North West Ankole diocese offices which is ongoing at Ibanda St. Paul Church.
Minister Mbayo, who laid the foundation stone in the names of the president, advised local church leaders to resist being used in political wars. She also urged Christians to give to God in order to receive his blessings.
Minister Mbayo pledged to remind the President about his promise to give out a vehicle to the new Bishop of the new diocese, who is expected to be ordained on 1st October 2017.
Museveni sent in Shs 20 Million cash to support the project. In his speech read by the minister, Museveni referred to his 2016 promise that government will start funding churches’ evangelical work, in exchange for their support of government projects.
Preaching at the function, the Bishop of Ankole Diocese Rt. Rev. Dr. Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa revealed that Ibanda started lobbying for a diocese in 1982 until recently the when Synod approved the North West Ankole Diocese.
The woman MP Ibanda district Ms. Jovlyne Kaliisa and MP Ibanda North Major Guma Gumisiriza gave Shs 5 million each.
According to the chairman for fundraising Can. Roberts Rutehenda, so far the works have consumed Shs 100 million and Shs 250 million is still needed.