By Eusukoit Cuthbert Otim.
AMURIA : St Andrews Church of Uganda in Amuria district Eastern Uganda is in search of ushs 330 million shillings to complete roofing of the Church building.
Part of the money according to the Archdeacon Rev. Simon Peter Otukei Ushs 51million is to clear an outstanding debt with Uganda Baati . The debt is said to have been from the iron sheets earlier received for the same purpose. In addition to that the roofing level still needs 30 million for purchase of more iron sheets.
The construction work is being supervised by Eng. Simon Ocen a fellow Christian in the church, started way back on 17th of November 2011 and is expected to be completed as soon as funds are galvanized.
During a first mass celebrated on Sunday by his Lordship the Bishop of Soroti Diocese Rt. Rev. Kosea Odongo, he urged Christians to unite in pooling resources together to ensure that they completed the task at hand.
“Unity is all I ask of you If we want to grow, if we want to complete spacious house of the Lord, let’s embrace unity, not only in the Church but even in other spheres of life,” he said in his sermon to a mammoth congregation.
State Minister of Works and Transport Musa Ecweru, who was part of the congregation pledged 5 Million in two weeks time as his personal contribution to 15 million. He had in the month of August delivered 9 million in cash to the construction committee.
However, Ecweru called for transparency and accountability of the funds and properties contributed by the Christians.
“I will send 5 million after two week, but give me an acknowledgement of receipt. I also want to challenge the clergy to be exemplary, Account for the humble contribution of Christians towards the construction of this Church. That will motivate us to contribute even more,” said the Minister while addressing the congregation.
The remaining scope of work includes construction of the floors, fixing doors and windows, plastering and painting which could cost millions of shillings.
Recently, the church leadership has been moving from house to house gathering support in kind from the whole district. Christians donated items such as groundnuts, sim sim, sorghum, millet, rice and so forth.
According to the committee chairperson Samson Eumu, the items will be auctioned in order to raise money needed to support construction.