Priest orders families to plant bananas as precondition for baptism

Kasese, Uganda| THE INDEPENDENT | Parents in Nsenyi Parish, Kasese district who do not have at least 20 banana plants in their homestead will not have their children baptized. This was announced by Rev. Fr. Modest Masereka Kasenyankwe, the Parish Priest who described it as a new move to boost food security in the parish.

Rev. Fr. Kasenyankwe notes that it is unfortunate that many families were struggling to secure food during the COVID-19 lockdown despite occupying fertile land and says that the lockdown has reminded the church to encourage Christians to work and have sufficient food for their families.

Rev. Fr. Kasenyankwe, who has been rallying Christians to grow food says those who heeded to his advice earlier on are the ones donating food to those in need. He says it is useless to grow spiritual concepts in humans and forget about their livelihoods.

Scovia Musokyi, a Catholic faithful in Nsenyi parish has welcomed the move by the church saying many homesteads in their area have abandoned agriculture and chose to depend on markets. She says because of the current lockdown, most families are now depending on relatives for survival.

The Bishop of Kasese Diocese, Francis Kibira says coronavirus has exposed all areas each stakeholder must engage in to make better plans for their people.

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