Life has become so unbearable in recent times that many have resorted more than anything else to simply live in the times. Thus, the times of unprecedented economic crisis, climatic changes and diseases among other things that have turned the whole world upside down but most certainly, the times of uncertainty. Living in the time calls for an understudy of the situation like the one suggested by Prof. Vincent Bagire in our Management column; one that encourages everyone else in-coming or out-going to take on the importance of understudying the current situation, to be able to move to the next level. As a world and country, we therefore ought to understudy the times to better equip ourselves for the future.
We bring you an understudy of the Budget for the FY 2022/2023, which is meant to enhance economic recovery from the shocks caused by the COVD-19 pandemic through efficient collection of taxes among other things. Besides the budget, we interest you to read the facts on the controversy around the Vinci coffee deal. It is important for us to understand why the state-owned Coffee Marketing Board (CMB), founded in 1963 to handle the international marketing of Uganda’s coffee, which lasted for about 30 years, before being succeeded by the Uganda Coffee Development Authority or UCDA is now defunct. This will give better understanding and appreciation of the new role obtained by Italian company, the Vinci Uganda Coffee Company to process and market Uganda’s coffee internationally.
Away from that, we also need a better understanding of the place our priests hold in society today. Fr. Nicholas Onyait MCCJ takes us through priesthood and the risk of clericalism. Besides looking at the priests as servant and mediator, many Christians today are at a risk of looking at the religious men of God in a way that is contradictory or overrated to what it should actually be. According to Pope Francis, clericalism arises when the clerics feel superior and when they are far from the people. This according to the Pope can be fostered by the priests themselves or by the lay persons.
Therefore, in living the priesthood by the priest and understanding it, by the faithful, it is important to return to the essentials and embrace them; that is; service rendered in humility for God’s people and the call to holiness that also sanctifies the people of God and reconciles them to him. This is what makes Father Giuseppe Ambrosoli: The Healing Man Of God distinct; for “In assisting the sick and in carrying out the various tasks, he was the most solicitous; always attentive, without being noticed, to compensate for the omissions of others, with the attitude of apologizing, thanking those who had allowed him to practice in various diagnostic and therapeutic tasks.”
As we re-learn to live in the times, may we be dressed in that attitude, of living in dignity and mutual respect for one another at the service of others!
