RUKUNGIRI, UGANDA: Rt Rev. Onesimus Asiimwe was Sunday, March 12, installed as the 6th Bishop of North Kigezi Diocese during a church function presided over by the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Dr Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu at St. Emmanuel Cathedral Kinyasano in Rukungiri municipality.
During his preaching, Dr Kaziimba called on the Church Leaders and entire Christians to commit themselves to a united prayer in order to overcome the challenges they are faced with.
The Archbishop quoting from the Book of James 5:16 emphasized how God’s Word tells us to pray without ceasing and also 2 Chronicles 7:14, says that God will hear our prayer and bestow his favors and blessings upon all people.
Kaziimba made it categorically clear that the Church Leaders must engage in intensive evangelism and mission because the gospel is needed now more than ever before.
“The gospel is needed to bring healing, reconciliation and restoration of faith in one True God and his saving power,” he said.
The cleric however expressed fear that materialism is increasing with aggressiveness to dilute the Gospel, but God’s Word will endure all seasons, and further asked church members to engage in meaningful income-generating projects for the sustainability of Church Ministry and programs.
He urged the Christians to utilise the available Church land well make sure that their income sustains the Diocese otherwise some organisations will utilise the vulnerability to exploit them.
At the same function, CoU Archbishop Emeritus Henry Luke Orombi asked Asiimwe to create togetherness among Christians in the diocese through preaching the Gospel.
Orombi said that he got to know Bishop Asiimwe as a young man and saw in him a person passionate about evangelism and a rising star in him and he is now happy that the rising star has risen since his prophecy of him becoming a servant of God and a Bishop at most has come to pass.
Orombi asked the new bishop to become a leader who has got followers because any leader without a following will find himself alone and asked to touch the hearts of the young generation who are being swayed away from the doctrine of good upbringing.
“Some parents are absent and they have failed to do their responsibilities and and satan is stealing them for bad vices like homosexuality,” Orombi said.
In his Charge, Bishop Asiimwe paid glowing tribute to the former Bishops of North Kigezi Diocese whom he thanked for leaving a firm foundation from where he will start.
He said that he will use the time he will be the Bishop of North Kigezi Diocese to focus on evangelism with emphasis to expand the church both in numbers and infrastructure and also ensure promotion of family values.
“Prayer must be emphasised based in togetherness and unity…” Bishop Asiimwe said.
The Vice President of Uganda Rt Maj Jessica Alupo Epel who represented President Museveni at the event said that the Lord has chosen Bishop Onesimus Asiimwe to lead the people of North Kigezi to righteousness and thanked the House of Bishops for electing him.
Museveni in his message commended the Church of Uganda for its commitment to teaching the people on how they can improve their livelihoods and contribute to the development of the church and the country at large.
The President called on all the believers to support the new Bishop so that the Diocese can develop and thanked the caretaker Bishop Patrick Tugume Tusingwire for steering the Diocese following the death of the Late Bishop Magezi and hailed the Christians for their patience.
The president donated a new brand vehicle to the new Archbishop to help him in the mission and evangelism.
The function was attended by the 1st Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs; Rt Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, Ministers; Dr Chris Baryomunsi, Hon David Bahati, Hon Sarah Nyirabashiki Mateke and Hon Henry Musasizi, among other dignitaries.
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