Mother's union celebrate Mary's Day with call to fight Domestic violence

By Kitts Mabonga

The mothers Union of Namirembe Diocese Church of Uganda has appealed to community leaders to join hands in fighting gender based violence [GBV] which is on the rise as precipitated by poverty, illiteracy and lack of civic education within their localities.

The call has been made by the union president Biingi Roseline Kawiso at St.Stephen's church Kabowa in Mengo Archdeaconry Namirembe diocese during the Grand opening of Mary's day celebrations 2024.

The main celebrant was the Bishop of Namirembe diocese Bishop Moses Banja while his wife Rev Canon Prof.Olivia Nassaka Banja being the guest preacher of the day.

The IGG Betie Oliva Namisango Kamya was chief guest respectively who presided over a fundraising drive for the Mother's union house project were over 22M/=was collected in cash and kind out of the cumulative amount of 300M/=required.

Kawiso told the over 1,500 guests that her union was concerned about the escalating cases of domestic violence among households saying all stakeholders need to play their roles of sensitizing couples about the need to have a peaceful coexistence free of violence as it perpetrates crime and family break ups.

‘We would like to register our deep concerns to the effect that as we move among communities while on church and union pastoral works, we get concerned about the rising cases of domestic violence among most households however we call upon all stakeholders to collectively join hands to support government in sensitizing household heads about the negative consequences that come with domestic violence’ noted Kawiso.

Kawiso commended all stakeholders for having joined them as they carried out their week-long activities such as hosting medical camps where hundreds of patients from the Kampala Metropolitan area accessed free medical services.

The other activities included visiting and donating key babies items to the Sanyu babies Home in Namirembe,buying Kabaka’s birthday marathon Kits at Bulange Mengo as well as carrying out mass media sensitization campaigns to the public discussing topical issues such as challenges of unchristian lifestyles, health, child education, economic empowerment programs and encouraging locals to embrace the holy teachings of the Bible among others.

'Today we celebrate Mary Sumner, the founder of Mothers’ Union. We celebrate her insight and perceptiveness in seeing what was needed and recognising the means by which the need could be met and across the globe the 4 million members of Mothers’ Union celebrate the life and faith of our founder. We pray for the mission of Mothers’ Union as we have lived in so many countries. Mary Sumner’s life showed clearly her belief in the vocation to prayer and the call to social action that flowed from it. These are the foundations on which the Union has been built,' noted Kawiso.

 Bishop Moses Banja challenged the government to fight corruption, ensure that citizens access the vital social services such as education for all, economic empowerment programs, healthcare among others given that a healthy population is the one which can be productive.

He also preached messages of peace, security, love one another and encouraged locals to participate in income generating activities as a deliberate strategy of combating the high rates of household poverty 

Betie Kamya challenged religious leaders across board to join them in the fight against corruption which has become a big problem responsible for crippling economic development of the country

She congratulated the Mothers’ Union movement in the country for effectively reaching this great day and as well as celebrating her founder’s life and charitable activities she rendered during her active life.

She appreciated the great work being done by the union especially extending support to families, advocacy against gender based violence, campaigning against child marriage, orphans care as well as supporting government efforts in building economic empowerment capacity among the women folks to fight poverty.