KATAKWI: There was jubilation at St. Anne’s Usuk Catholic Parish in Katakwi district as 68 couples tied the knot during a mass wedding on Friday, Dec 27, 2024.
More than 2000 Christians thronged the church to witness the mass wedding, which was presided over by Rev. Fr. Patrick Achedu as the main celebrant, assisted by Rev. Fr. Gonzaga Ongereny Waziwazi, the Bishop’s Counsellor.
The event was attended by the Vice President, Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo, who doubles as the district woman member of Parliament.
Other attendees included the Katakwi Deputy Resident District Commissioner Vincent Saviour Okwi, the LC-V district chairperson Geoffrey Omolo, the Karenga resident district commissioner Geoffrey Filbert Ocailap, and other leaders.
The function started at 11 am with the assembling of the couples, who then walked down the aisle and took their vows as the audience cheered them on during the Family Day celebrations.
Fr. Achedu thanked the couples for dedicating their marriages to God and urged them to remain prayerful and respect each other as couples for peace to prevail in their marriages.
“I want to thank you for coming to the altar. I urged you to remain prayerful and loving to one another so as to have peaceful marriages and families so that you will be able to bring up God-fearing children,” he said.
Fr. Achedu told the newlywed couples that marriage is not only about procreation or staying together but also mutual companionship.
“Marriage is total commitment of the total person for total life. Therefore I urge you to renew your friendship and attraction to each other,” Achedu said.
He informed Christians that the family is the most endangered institution in the world right now, and they should jealously guard it against social injustices and vices like same-sex marriages.
“Stop taking marriage for drama. Separation and divorce should be the last thing you think about; therefore, be vigilant, work hard, and defend the institution,” he appealed.
He urged the newlywed couples to give each other ample time, adding that both verbal and nonverbal communication is key in marriage.
He thanked the vice president for her enormous contribution towards the development of the church as an institution and appealed to Christians to contribute to the construction of the social centre, renovation of St. Anne old church, and the parish house.
“I’m so happy I have wedded my wife. I couldn’t have managed to do it on my own with the current inflation where prices of commodities have gone high,” Charles Ojwang, one of the newly wedded, said.
The vice president, Alupo, thanked Rev. Fr. Achedu for the day’s special preaching and asked the church to continue organising mass weddings for the Christians.
She assured the people of Katakwi and neighbouring communities of constant peace and security with neighbouring Karamoja.
Alupo assured the audience that the government will continue to deliver on security, roads, health, education, and other social services to ensure the well-being of its citizens.
The vice president further asked the congregation to make the best use of the above services to better their lives.
In a significant development, Alupo revealed that the Katakwi general hospital will be renovated and new installations will occur, including construction of a new theatre in Katakwi district, serving the entire region.
She encouraged parents to take children to school without discrimination and ensure that children complete the education cycle.
She urged the locals to observe and maintain hygiene. She also advised them to observe general body check-ups in government hospitals and healthy centres.
She assured the locals that the government was doing its best to increase access to water by having a borehole in every village for both domestic and production.
Alupo decried the increasing number of domestic violence cases and urged the newlywed couples to stick to their marriage vows for peace and harmony to prevail.
The LCV chairman, Omolo, decried the increasing number of school dropouts and urged parents to ensure they take children to school.
He appreciated Rev. Fr. Achedo for his preaching on the importance of family and marriage and asked the church to start inviting couples for women and men conferences that are annually organised.
He decried the increasing number of teenage pregnancies in the district and asked parents to observe proper parenthood.
He also decried the high rates of school dropout and urged Parents should guard their children against social vices.
