Catholic Workers Movement celebrate St. Joseph the Worker’s day

By Jjunju Francis

02^nd May 2022

Catholic Workers’ Movements observed the feast of St. Joseph the Worker that is observed on May 1^st and at the same time it’s the international Labour Day.

The Catholic Church reflects on how St. Joseph respected and appreciated work in order to meet his family needs.

While world over the labour day is commemorated in appreciation of the contribution of workers to national development. It is also used to raise both national and international consciousness on the importance of promoting and protecting the rights of workers.

The Catholic Church Workers Movement in Uganda graced the day and in most parishes, they took a center stage in the mass to commemorate the day and thanking God for his blessings in work in this post covid era.

The Archbishop of Kampala His Grace Paul Ssemogerere while at Lweza Parish that also celebrated its Golden Jubilee expressed concern to the rampant exploitation of workers in Uganda.

He says right from the home attendants to public servants they get very little which cannot even help them get a decent living given the increasing cost of living.

At St. Peter’s Parish Nsambya the same Catholic Workers movement participated in all the masses of the day and the Parish Priest Fr. Joseph Semanda Balikudembe hailed the movement for its discipleship and challenged Ugandans to always think of team work, and offer work with a difference, commitment and zeal that they will get God’s blessings and achieve success.

“Disciples who exhibited team spirit and won the challenges of life as they evangelized should be the way to take by all workers,” Fr. Semanda said.

At the National level labour day was celebrated at Kololo where President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni maintained his stand on prioritizing better payment of civil servants in science-related fields as workers push for the harmonization of salaries across the board and enactment of a minimum wage.

Museveni noted that although civil servants in other fields would get enhanced salaries, the government decided to start with scientists.

He was responding to calls from Usher Wilson Owere, the Chairperson of the National Organization of Trade unions- NOTU for better pay for workers in Arts and humanities, saying that they are equally important.