Church Leaders In Gulu Stop Christians From Carrying Bags To Church Premises

The leadership of Holy Rosary Parish in Gulu City has banned Christians from carrying bags within the premises of its different churches over terror attacks in the country.

The church leaders made the directives today during weekly Sunday masses. The development comes after the recent twin explosions in Kampala City by suspected terrorists last Tuesday.  Holy Rosary Parish has more than five churches including Holy Family, Holy Cross, St. Mauritz among other chapels.  

The biggest is Holy Rosary Church in Pece-Laroo division, Gulu City which draws Christians from all parts of the City. It is located next to Gulu Main Market which is also the city`s biggest market with over 4,000 vendors.  

The move comes at the backdrop of increasing cases of explosions in the country with the latest occurring last Tuesday in Kampala claiming the lives of at least seven people and injuring at least 33. 

Rev. Father David Okello Opiro, the Curate of Holy Rosary Parish noted that the decision was reached by the church`s leadership adding that no bag and suspicious material regardless of their sizes or type will be allowed inside premises of the churches, a decision he says aims at protecting the lives of the people.

He pointed out that those who may insist on carrying bags and suspicious materials into the church premises will not be allowed into the church precincts or else they will be arrested handed over to the security team who have been deployed within and around the churches. 

//Cue in: ‘’even if we…   Cue out: …reply and respond.’’//  Rev. Father Justine Erick Uma, the Parish Priest for Holy Rosary noted that Christians should take maximum precautions and be vigilant by reporting to authorities and securities all people with strange characters and behaviors within their vicinities.   

The Pece-Laroo division Member of Parliament, Rev. Father Charles Onen who also attended the mass asked Christians to be more vigilant at this time that the country is faced with terrorism threats.   

The legislator further asked the President to stop identifying Muslims as the masterminds of terrorism and bombings in the country noting that it will create unrest and division in the country.   

Unlike before, security had been beefed up at all entry and exit points into Holy Rosary Church where private security guards were deployed and conducting thorough checks using metal detectors and stopping entries with backpacks.

Michael Okello, one of the Christians welcomed the decision saying that it is life protecting at this time that the country is faced with terror threats.