NAMUGONGO– The Vice President and Woman MP for Katakwi district Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo has reiterated government commitment towards the promotion and support of freedom of worship in the country.
“I want to assure you of the Government’s commitment towards promotion and support of the freedom of worship, and collaboration with the church towards development initiatives to our people,” Alupo said.
She made the remarks during an annual Mass organized by the Tororo Ecclesiastical Province Association of the Laity (TEPAL) at Uganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine Namugongo today, June 08, 2025
TEPAL comprises all the associations of Dioceses within Tororo including; Jinja, Tororo, Moroto, Soroti and Kotido Catholic Dioceses.
Every year TEPAL organizes Mass for all Catholic dioceses hailing from Eastern Uganda with the main objectives of fostering unity, sharing development activities, increase faith, create the link between the ordinaries and their flock including the ones outside the ecclesiastical province.
TEPAL also identifies capacities among the Catholics that can be tapped at different levels in the development, and create a platform of understanding and knowing each other, thereby creating networks and safety nets for social economic transformation.
The vice president reminded parents to build strong families based on religious foundation saying such households tend to produce children who are morally upright.
“I therefore, expect this association to be striving high to extend moral lessons to the families that will see a country raising youths with religious and ethical conducts,” she said.
Alupo asked the clergy to remain committed towards the promotion of wealth creation and household incomes within their communities to enable our country to fully attain the middle-income status.
“Initiatives like these ones are indeed in line with this call, and I argue you to remain committed towards this cause,” she said.
Alupo pledged to continue pulling for support towards TEPAL future plans and appealed to relevant bodies to offer support towards these programs.
She stressed that her door remains open for TEPAL to help each other foster growth, development and moral up bringing within our communities, not only in Eastern Uganda, but the country at large.
The vice president wished the faithful good luck, blessings and strength in their endeavors to promote peace, spirituality and harmonious leaving.
Currently, TEPAL has registered multiple achievements which include; support to ordinations, supporting Church Building and welfare of some of the priests, support towards descent sendoff of priests, ordinaries and Laity whom the Almighty calls to serve him in his Kingdom, mobilizing all professionals, politicians and other technocrats from her region and other Dioceses in the country.
The TEPAL annual mass was graced the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda H.E. Luigi Bianco, including main celebrant Rt. Rev Dr. Joseph Eciru, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tororo Archdiocese Most. Rev. Emmanuel Obbo, Bishop of Kotido Rt. Rev. Dominic Eibu, the Bishop of Moroto Diocese Rt. Rev. Damiano Guzzetti and the Bishop of Jinja Diocese Rt. Rev. Martin Wamika.
In his homily Bp. Eciru noted that in last few weeks, they have witnessed the return to the Father of the much beloved Pope Francis whom we hosted as a country.
With great joy, he thanked God for the gift of Pope Leo XIV as a new shepherd and successor to the Apostle Peter. He prayed for the success of his ministry as the universal shepherd.
About our beloved provincial laity association, the prelate said Mother church rightly guides and exhorts on the core and essence of such associations by becoming what the church envisages them to be for example striving with a common effort of fostering a more perfect life.
“May our communion and association help restore a message of life full of hope. Please help connect souls in a manner that builds and nourishes,” the bisop said.
