In Kasese municipality, over 60 former ghetto boys and stone quarry workers from Kogere and Kigoro cells have decided to stop using drugs and alcohol. They have made a commitment to the Church during a service at Kasese Archdeaconry headquarters in Nyamwamba division.
During this church service, 18 of these individuals, who were above 30 years old, were baptized as a symbol of their dedication to the church.
Hilary Bwambale, 25, shared that he returned to the Church after 20 years because he witnessed his colleagues being buried without proper respect and without religious leaders present. He hopes that when he passes away, his burial will be conducted with reverence.
Denis Kambale, 30, mentioned that since he left the Church, he has been falsely accused of theft whenever a crime occurs in their village. He described an incident when he was wrongly detained in the police cells for a week before the real culprits were identified.
What led to their decision to change? Jerina Nickson, the chairperson of the Kogere ghetto boys, explained that their transformation began when a reverend from Kogere Archdeaconry visited them at their washing bay at the stone quarry. Despite their drunkenness and drug use, the reverend encouraged them to attend church, emphasizing that Jesus Christ welcomes all sinners.
The Rev. Jesseley Kambale Muli, the assistant archdeacon of Kasese Archdeaconry, played a crucial role in helping these former ghetto boys turn their lives around. He explained that when he arrived at the archdeaconry, he noticed that many people had stopped attending church. He devised strategies to bring them back, including visiting the youth in the ghetto.
The Very Venerable Alfred Mugisa Mujungu, the archdeacon of Kasese, expressed his gratitude to God for the significant number of former ghetto boys who have returned to the church. He pledged to support them both spiritually and financially, helping them form savings groups and engage in church activities.
Pimako Kasereka, the Nyamwamba division LC3 chairperson, who witnessed the event, called upon religious and political leaders nationwide to visit ghetto areas and offer words of hope to the residents. He stressed that many of them live in ignorance and illiteracy and need support and engagement in government programs.
