Church Leaders Urge Families to Embrace Christ to Curb Domestic Violence and Poverty.

Rukungiri: The rampant domestic violence cases in Rukungiri district have been attributed to men who have neglected the church and their families.

During a thanksgiving service held in Nyankoro zone under Rwanyanja Church of Uganda Parish in Bugangari Sub-county on October 19, 2024 Boaz Kwesiga Rutera, the head of laity for Bugangari Archdeaconry, called on families to turn to Jesus Christ to overcome domestic violence challenges.

The service organized by her wife, Silia Kwesiga was held at his home. He highlighted that most families facing disputes do not have Christ at the center of their homes, emphasizing that when the head of the family engages in prayer and relies on Christian values, they are more likely to handle family issues peacefully and avoid conflicts with their spouses.

He further explained that poverty is one of the major causes of domestic violence, particularly in families where men neglect their responsibility to provide for basic needs. Kwesiga said that many men have abandoned their duty to care for their families, leading to struggles in providing necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, and school fees for their children.

He urged men to return to their homes, work hard, and seek Jesus Christ as their savior to overcome these challenges.

Rev. Canon Elias Bangi, the Archdeacon for Bugangari Archdeaconry, expressed concern over the rising school dropout rates, especially among girls. He noted that many girls end up working in bars, while boys resort to casual labor and fall into bad company, often engaging in drug and alcohol abuse.

Rev. Canon Bangi encouraged children to remain focused on their education to secure a brighter future. He also urged parents to take responsibility for their children’s education and well-being.

Additionally, Rev. Richard Kwehangana, the parish priest, told Country radio that he had inherited a church quota debt of 149 million shillings, with 15 million still outstanding. During the service, a total of 4,230,000 shillings was raised to help settle the debt.