In Abira Ward, Kidetok Town Council, Serere District, Abira Catholic Church is facing a unique challenge. Their church, made of grass-thatched materials, has been intentionally set on fire twice, leaving the community in distress. The incidents occurred on the eve of Easter in 2022 and once again this year. Surprisingly, despite the police being involved, the culprits have not been identified or apprehended.
The resilient congregation now conducts their prayers at the very spot where their beloved church once stood. Bricks mark the altar in this makeshift outdoor prayer area. This temporary place of worship is easily noticeable to passersby, as it’s located along the road leading to Serere Town.
Every Thursday afternoon, the church’s members gather for special prayers, fervently seeking divine intervention to rebuild their house of worship, which was reduced to ashes.
The first arson incident took place on the eve of Easter in 2022, and no arrests were made, despite a police report. After months of collective efforts, the church community managed to construct a replacement structure. However, their relief was short-lived when their new church was once again set ablaze on this year’s Easter eve.
The matter was reported to the police once more, but the perpetrators remain unidentified. Frustrated and seeking answers, the church leadership has turned to God for guidance.
The Christians have decided to conduct special prayer sessions every Thursday, praying under the sun, as they seek divine help to build a new, iron-roofed church. Francis Eyoku, leading the prayers, explained their determination, “Since the police have failed to apprehend the arsonists, we have resolved to turn to God by holding prayers every week under the sun as we cry out to God to help us build an iron-roofed church.”
For their Sunday prayers, the faithful now gather at the site of their burnt church. Prayer sessions commence at 6:00 am and conclude at 9:00 am. Samuel Olagai, the chairman of the laity, expressed their faith, saying, “Since our temple was burnt, we have decided to pray from the site of our burnt church, and we believe God will provide us with the resources to build a permanent church. We are certain that God will answer our prayers one day as we worship Him under the sun. We have not wronged anybody.”
As they continue to pray outdoors, the Abira Christians have initiated the construction of an 800-seater church, which has reached window level. Galdes Aluka, a church member, acknowledged the challenges they face, stating, “Being peasants who rely on subsistence farming, we project that the church we have started might take us 20 or more years to complete, but with God, we are sure we shall complete the house of the Lord.”
While they are seeking assistance from kind-hearted individuals, Olagai remains optimistic that God will provide them with the necessary resources. He explained, “As much as some of us believe that we shall manage to build that church without any external help, we also have doubting Thomases who have even started pulling us down slowly.”
The estimated cost of the church’s construction is 100 million Ugandan shillings, aimed at ensuring their place of worship is protected from the elements.
