
BY RICHARD DRASIMAKU
ARUA: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024
Rt Rev Charles Collins Andaku, the bishop of Madi-West Nile diocese, has called for modesty in spending among Christians as they celebrate Christmas this year.
“Make Christmas cost effective, celebrate carefully, be security conscious have a stress-free Christmas,” said Rev Andaku.
He however noted that people have turned celebration of Christmas upside down through lavish spending and celebrating in a secular way.
“That is why secular celebration is on top. Christmas has become busy, expensive and competitive. There are a lot of worries and merry making leading to untold suffering,” he said.
Bishop Andaku noted that many non-Christians also celebrate Christmas but following secular traditions.
He listed gender-based violence, divorce, loss of life, poverty, killing, theft and teenage pregnancies and defilement as some of the consequences of secular celebration of Christmas.
The bishop was speaking to Journalists and diocesan staff during an annual media fellowship held midweek at the diocesan headquarters in Mvara.

Bishop Andaku said Christmas is a joyous, and loving Day when God has given yet another opportunity for the people to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
He warned against over spending, over socializing, over drinking and reminded the people to remember that school fees for the beginning of the next academic year lies ahead of them.
“Celebrate smartly, refocus on Christ, renew your mind, body and repent of habits you want to leave like gossiping, cohabiting, insulting, pride, hatred and unforgiving heart,” he said.
He called on the people to vigorously fight poverty, ignorance and Gender based violence during the festivities.
While explaining why the way many people celebrate birth of Christ is at variance with the true essence of Christmas, Rev Andaku said this is because the birth of Jesus is a mystery to people who do not know the true meaning of Christmas and why Jesus was sent into this world.
“The true spirit of Christmas is the one of joy, expression of love through greetings, gift giving and time spent with loved ones and to spent special time in the church,” he asserted.
He urged Christains to make Christmas a time to receive the message of hope, love, peace and reconciliation, forgiveness and deliverance from sin and many afflictions.
“May this Christmas of 2024 shone light in our hearts, in the way we live, walk and celebrate because we are covered with a deep darkness of sin,” he said.
Rev Andaku made a raft of suggestions for a difference which included the need to know the true meaning of Christmas, have special worship in the church and at home and preaching the goodness of the birth of the saviour.
He also rallied Christians to try to show compassion in their celebration by giving gifts to neighbours and people who are disadvantaged, the sick, those in prison and the physically impaired.
“Also give to support the work of God, give generously and cheerfully, the bible says that the hand that gives is blessed than the one that receives” Andaku stated.
Various heads of departments also fielded questions from journalists during the bishop’s address.
The diocesan Finance Manager, Richard Feta presented a sh14.13b budget for 2025 year was launched, an upward revision from the sh10b for the year ending 2024.
He said the budget and year plan is meant to ensure spiritual wellness and support operations of the diocese, the archdeaconries and the parishes. Another key pillar is to expand the environmental protection program through extensive tree planting and protection of church lands.

Madi-West Nile diocese has over 700,000 Christians in about 100,000 households in 685 churches, 186 parishes and 13 archdeaconries.
According to Jessica Mungulemisaru, the diocesan planner who also heads the household and community transformation department, the new plans and budget will enable them to proclaim the gospel, plant new churches, send missionaries beyond the diocese.
“We hope to reposition the diocesan staff to be able to achieve the workplan, improve performance in all spheres and increase the tree planting coverage,” she said.
Another key milestone the church is addressing is profiling and titling of all the church lands to eradicate the challenge of land disputes.
This is visionary and needs the understanding and support of the Christians.