An 8,000-iron sheet donation has been delivered to the clergy serving under the Anglican Church in Lango diocese.
The donation by president Yoweri Museveni was delivered on Saturday, to Bishop Charles Odurkami at Boroboro hill, the seat of the diocese.
A delivery note signed by Amelia Kyambade, the president's secretary says that the 8,000 iron sheets should be distributed to both priests in active service and those who retired. Widows of the deceased priests are also expected to benefit from the iron sheets.
According to the delivery note, the donation is in response to a plea for iron sheets made by the clergy recently, when the president visited Lango region.
Bishop Odurkami says each of the beneficiaries will be given 40 iron sheets. The distribution exercise begins today.
But the donation has already attracted concern from church members who urgue that the donation could compromise the state –church relations.
Denis Okwir, one of the Christians says the donation appears politically motivated and appears more of a campaign gimmick for the president. He says the president could be trying to gain more support from the church to shore up his strength in Lango, an area considered a stronghold for the UPC party.
Bishop Odurkami has also expressed discomfort at the timing of the donation. He says that while the president may have given the assistance in good faith, the timing could raise suspicions.
However, some of the intended beneficiaries have said the assistance would not affect their integrity. William Ocen, one of the retired priests said he would treat the assistance as any of the services that government provides for its citizens.
In February, a group of about 20 priests from the diocese secretly traveled and met President Yoweri Museveni at his home in Rwakitura, an incident that was criticized by a section of the church leaders and Christians. The critics said the president could be manipulating the church leaders.
