Kampala Archdiocese holds mass for departed Ugandans succumbed to Covid-19

By Jjunju Francis

1^st July 2021

The Kampala Archdiocese has held a special mass to pray for the souls departed due to Covid-19 and also seek God’s mercy for the country and the world as a whole to get rid of the deadly pandemic.

The Mass has been held at St. Mary’s Cathedral Lubaga led by the Apostolic Administrator for Kampala Archdiocese Rt. Rev. Bishop Paul Ssemogerere, who condemned a group of some people who are taking advantage of the pandemic to charge exorbitant fees for treatment, burials and others are currently selling fake vaccines.

This comes after the State House Health Monitoring Unit led by Dr Wallen Naamara together with police and Ministry of health impounded at least 800 fake doses of Covid-19 vaccines and arrested two nurses suspected to have been administering these drugs and issuing fake certificates to people.

Yet recently, several outcries from the public were heard in the media indicating private hospitals around Kampala charging between Shs3m and Shs5m per day for patients needing oxygen in the intensive care and high dependency units.

Bishop Ssemogerere says this kind of heart is suicide and even the elicit money and wealth amassed from such actions might not help such greedy people.

Drawing from the theme; Fear Not, Bishop Ssemogerere said the situation at hand is almost like the time when Jesus was in Agony before his crucifixion, where many have lost hope, consolation and courage but God is always available for humanity.

He hailed the medical workers and all experts who have sacrificed to save the lives of others and find drugs calling them martyrs.

To all Ugandans he reminded them to observe the Standard Operating Procedures SOPs to protect themselves against the pandemic.

During the same virtual prayers he prayed for all the souls of the faithful departed due to Covid-19 and those who are still admitted to get well soon.

In Uganda family members are not allowed to bury their dead if they have succumbed to Covid but funnel service providers have increased the charges standing at 4 million shillings. Only what they do is to come and role down the casket and fumigate around. At the same time the state house anti-corruption team discovered fake bottles purportedly filled with water on market sold as Covid-19 vaccine.