By Prof. Vincent Bagire
Crossing of the minds indeed. As I was preparing to put together a piece for this month on group thinking in an organization, I got calls from some ardent readers of leadership asking my opinion on the on-going preparations for June 3 rd 2023 celebrations at Namugongo. These calls from completely different people tossed me into a new management theory: group thinking among people united by an idea.
As you read this, preparations for Martyr’s day 2023 led by Jinja Diocese are in high gear. The many calls I got were: if there are written guidelines for the hosting Diocese; what happens after the celebration till the next; how do residents of Namugongo envisage the future; whether there is a strategic plan of Namugongo development; another wondered of the Ugx 2billions budget fronted by the organizers as worrying; and a rejoinder was that Fort portal had a 1 billion budget and now double. The last was on what the Church could do to bring down the cost of hosting Martyrs day. I think all the concerns circle around what is entailed in leading the celebration and at what cost.
The National Martyrs day celebrations for this year will soon be over. Jinja Diocese will celebrate the achievement and in their plenary meeting in June, the Bishops will appoint the next Diocese to lead. The Ordinary and his people will begin the apprehension. In the current tradition of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, a Diocese is chosen on a rotational basis to host the celebrations. The lessons that I have enumerated on managerial practical insights from the celebrations each year have become institutionally embedded, thus, forming the much needed guidelines.
This assignment that is essentially “one day” takes over ten months of demanding work of committees. I proposed in an old article in this magazine that the next host should be announced early and understudy the current organizers. I suggest a core standing team at national level charged to support the hosting Diocese. The Lay Apostolate Department whose national day is June 3 rd , should also spear head concept papers to enable Bishops adopt policy and guidelines.
I suggest a host of managerial skills as: decision making, fundraising, team work, communication, time management, advocacy and the use of ICTs. It is time we also looked at blended celebrations and having a model of routine pilgrimages geared towards pulling physical crowds off June 3. One such example is the MEPA – Mbarara Ecclesiastical Province Annual Pilgrimage in November. Also suggested is developing
the sites where the martyrs originate and turning them into national attractions. The point here is the concern for a strategic plan for Namugongo.
Structurally, it is time we looked at a physical item each Diocese should leave in place and we should also seek support from government agencies and corporates when mobilizing resources. I cautiously add that there is need to have audits as a policy requirement.
Prof Vicent Bagire s a member of the Episcopal Commission
for the Laity and Professor of Management
at Makerere University Business School
