Agenzia Fides

Konigstein (Agenzia Fides) - In order to contrast the growing influence of Islamic culture a more aimed education is needed. This is the appeal launched by the Bishop of Lugazi, central Uganda, His Exc Mgr. Matthias Ssekamanya, during a visit to the headquarters of the International pontifical law “Aid to the Church that is Suffering" in Königstein, Germany. Speaking of the situation in the country, the Bishop said that Muslims have taken key roles in several important ministries in Uganda, including that of economy and education. Official statistics show that about 12% of the 33 million Ugandans are followers of Islam, while Muslim sources say that this percentage is 33%. Mgr. Ssekamanya also pointed out that these statistics on religious affiliation are often used as political tools.
The Bishop also underlines that in his diocese, mainly rural, a greater effort to improve education should be carried out in order to contrast Islamic influence. About 42% of the half million people in the diocese of Lugazi are Catholic. The diocese is currently engaged in 194 primary and 26 secondary schools, attended by 75 000 students, assisted by 2,300 teachers. The Bishop's goal is to improve the quality of education and training of the staff, so education is able to give a solid human formation in order to offer more students the opportunity to attend college. Moreover, given that education is not a task only limited to schools, Mgr. Ssekamanya wants to concentrate his efforts for the apostolate of the family: "We want to strengthen the awareness of the dignity of marriage and family among the faithful, parents have a prophetic role in parish life", he said in his speech released by the Catholic News Agency. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 06/08/2011)