AMECEA ends with a call for Evangelisation on Environmental protection

By Francis Jjunju

19^th July 2022

The Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania  has ended with previous office bearers of the association re-elected to continue guiding the region to realize its mission of evangelization through inspiring and empowering God’s family.

Announcing the new office bearers to thousands of congregants including the bishops and delegates during the 20^th plenary closing Mass, Archbishop Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi of Dar es Salaam Archdiocese revealed that Bishop Charles Sampa Kasonde of Zambia’s Solwezi diocese who has been the Chairman of AMECEA since 2018 will continue in the same position.

At the same time AMECEA Secretariat will be headed by Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Makunde from Mbeya Archdiocese, Tanzania, as the Secretary General while Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo heads the Pastoral department as the Coordinator, Fr. Andrew Kaufa remains the Social Communications Coordinator and Fr. Paul Mungathia Igweta the coordinator for the Promotion of Integral Human Development.

The plenary assembly further appointed members of the AMECEA executive board that will include Bishop Thomas Osman of Barentu, Eritrea, Bishop Joseph Anthony Zziwa of Kiyinda-Mityana, Uganda, Archbishop Michael Didi Adgum Mangoria of Khartoum Sudan, Bishops Rogath Kimaryo of Same, Tanzania, Archbishop George Tambala of Lilongwe, Malawi, Archbishop Alick Banda of Lusaka, Zambia and Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba of Kisumu, Kenya  who will work together with the Chairman and Secretary General of AMECEA.

Concerning AMECEA Institutions, Rev.  Fr. Prof. Stephen Mbugua Ngari remains the Vice Chancellor for the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), while the new Council Chairman for the University is Bishop Paul Kariuki Njiru of Kenya’s Embu diocese among others.

The plenary that began on Sunday, July 10, under the theme environmental impact on integral human development, inspired by Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’ committed to protecting the environment.

The Chairman of AMECEA Bishop Charles Kasonde has thanked Tanzanians for their generosity in welcoming the delegates of the 20^th AMECEA Plenary held in Tanzania from 10^th to 18^th of July this saying that “The Word of God encourages all people to be faithful, generous, remain steadfast and also believing in the power of Gospel.