Christians in Sheema District have renewed their demand for the establishment of an independent Anglican Diocese.

SHEEMA: Protestants in Sheema District under the Central Ankole Diocese Chapter have renewed their demand for an independent Anglican Diocese with its headquarters stationed at St. Emmanuel Archdeaconry Church, Kabwohe, in Sheema Municipality.

For over the years, believers within Sheema District have sought to break away from West Ankole Diocese, its headquarters seat at St Peter’s Cathedral Bweranyangi in Bushenyi District which has not been progressed towards its realization.

The Verification Committee which was dispatched from West Ankole Diocese led by Ven. Can. Wilson Amukwatsye, on Tuesday went to review prerequisites for the creation of Central Ankole Diocese from which they engaged Protestants under Central Ankole Diocese Chapter from Sheema District.

In a verification process, a number of projects including; the bishop’s’ house, Cathedral Church Building and the Church income generating projects like school among others were inspected, to attain their capacity in soliciting funds for the church to fully fit the hosting the Diocese.

Engaging the Protestants after the Verification session Prof. Mesharch Katusiimeh together with Mrs. Jolly Kabigumira both the committee members of the earlier set committee by Bishop Johnson Twinomujuni said that the Verification Committee will make a report, which they believe will be convincing enough for an establishment of their Diocese.

They called up believers within the area to remain calm as the processes of having their new Diocese (Central Ankole Diocese) curved away from West Ankole Diocese are under way.

West Ankole Diocese, comprising the districts of Bushenyi, Buhweju, Sheema, Rubirizi, and Mitooma, and is one of the 37 dioceses within the Church of Uganda overseeing 25 archdeaconries, 132 parishes, and 412 sub-parish churches.

Since its establishment as a separate diocese from Ankole Diocese in 1996, West Ankole Diocese has had four bishops: Rt. Rev. Yoramu Bamunoba (1977-1997), Rt. Rev. William Magambo (1997-2005), Rt. Rev. Yona Katonene (2005-2016), and Rt. Rev. Johnson Twinomujuni (May 2017 to date).