By Chris Mugasha
The Archbishop of Church of Uganda, The Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Kaziimba has commended renowned businessman Dr. Ben Mugasha aka BEMUGA, for his substantial contributions to the Church and the country’s development.
Kazimba made the remarks on Saturday at St. Mark Church of Uganda Kyeibare in Diocese of West Ankole while preaching at the thanksgiving Service for Dr. Mugasha and commissioning of a fully furnished house that Mugasha built for the parish priest.
“It’s a very big challenge for a priest sleeping in a leaking house to give you a blessing while you sleep in a posh house. The priest is walking on foot or on a bicycle and you have a fleet of cars. That blessing will most likely come with sorrow,” Kazimba said as he commended Mugasha shortly after commissioning the house.
The Bishop of West Ankole Diocese, Rt. Rev Johnson Twinomujuni challenged believers to live a purposeful life and always use what God has given them for God’s work.
“Always ask yourself this question: If I had not been born, what would the world have missed in my absence? Whenever there is a call to support the building of churches and affiliated projects, it’s a golden opportunity for you to give back to God a part of what He has given you,” Bishop Twinomujuni said.
Mugasha said that when God healed him, he acknowledged that God had given him a second chance to live, because there was unfinished work for him.
“In 2020, at one of the prominent functions, my liver burst. I was taken to Nairobi for specialized treatment. Doctors gave me 5% chances of recovery but God gave me 100%. They had even tied a ribbon on my right hand to identify me properly in the mortuary but when they returned, they found me taking tea.” Dr Mugasha said.
Caption: The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Dr.Stephen Kazimba and city businessman Ben Mugasha aka Bemuga (in blue suit) cut a cake after the Archbishop commissioned a Priest’s house (behind) donated by Bemuga.
He added, “God instructed me to build a house for the Parish Priest. He was living in a dilapidated house. I was touched. I don’t want this house to be named after me, but after God.”
He added, “As part of medical specialists findings during the theatre process in Nairobi, my gallbladder was rotten, I had a tumor the size of a tennis ball, and it had to be cut out and this left me with a lot of clots, which made Doctors doubt my chances of survival but my God’s grace, I survived.”
“As we celebrate today’s function, it is exactly 1,694 days (4 years, 7 months and 20 days, I am alive and still counting. As my 62nd Birthday gift, I offer this token of thanksgiving, the vicarage.” Dr. Mugasha said.
The Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala commended Dr. Mugasha for considering to give thanks to God.
“When I survived the unfortunate shooting incident involving 50 bullets, I realized the hand of God. There is no military nor physical tactic I applied but God’s miraculous protection. Since then I offered my life fully to His service. It’s always important to give thanks.” Gen. Wamala said.
During the Service, over 150M, two hundred bags of cement and two cows were collected to support the completion of St Mark Church of Uganda Kyeibare.
In attendance was the Diocesan Head of Laity Willis Bashaasha, who welcomed the Archbishop to the Diocese and Congratulated Dr Ben for what he went through. Bashaasha thanked Christians for the generosity and always heeded the call for development.
Retired Bishops; Yona Katonene and Eng. George Bagamuhunda, members of Parliament, government officials and Archdeacons, business community and several dignitaries attended the Service.
In a related development, another Christian Micheal Rushambuza who is also a city businessman has also donated a fully furnished Priest’s house to church. Rushambuza a head of laity for Nyakabirizi Parish recently handed over the house to the Diocese of West Ankole leadership that was led by the Diocesan Secretary Ven. Rev Joseph Mweyungye who commissioned it at Nyakabirizi Parish in Bushenyi/Ishaka Municipality.
Caption: The Priest’s house at Nyakabirizi donated by Micheal Rushambuza (2nd left)
Church house in Kampala.
On the recently completed church house in Kampala, Kazimba said the revenues that accrue from the Church House will be distributed/shared amongst the Dioceses.
He said all dioceses will benefit from the revenues depending on how much a diocese invested towards the completion of the project that had stalled for many years.
The Archbishop commended Christians and well wishers for all their contributions which he said they finally managed to complete the project.
He explained that after completing the loan repayments with the funder, they are now settling the internal debts. “Be patient with us because there are some internal borrowing which we incurred and we are clearing them,” Kazimba said.
Kazimba implored Christians to intensify unity and shun against anything that is against peace in the church of Christ and in the country. “Regardless of our religious denominations, tribes let us all embrace peace because we are all God’s people,” he noted. The Archbishop added, “We should have constructive politics.”
Kazimba appealed to Christians to ensure that there is peace in their families by building ‘hearts’ which are Christ-centred. End.
