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My five years as bishop
Sheldon Fred Mwesigwa,53, is the last-born in a family of four. Today, he celebrates five years as Bishop of Ankole Diocese
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ANNIVERSARY. Sheldon Fred Mwesigwa,53, is the last-born in a family of four. Today, he celebrates five years as Bishop of Ankole Diocese. Rajab Mukombozi talked to him.
If former lives of people were anything to go by, then the Bishop of Ankole Diocese, Dr Sheldon Fred Mwesigwa would never have become a cleric. In his words,“I was a king of the dance floor, football lover and engaged in several relationships. However, the turning point was when I got saved in 1986.” Today, he celebrates five years as Bishop of Ankole diocese.
Getting on track
After A-Level, his dream of joining university did not come to pass. He joined Kakoba Teachers Training College in 1983. “I missed joining the university by one point. I scored aggregate 9 but I think that was God’s plan because I had so many ambitions for the university that could not have made me a servant of God,” the radiant Bishop recounts.
From the college, Mwesigwa, 23, was posted to Kibubura Girls’ Secondary School in Ibanda in 1986.
He says this time he had got the desire and love to serve God, but was always challenged by leaders for not being saved especially by the then Ankole Bishop Amos Betungura (RIP) and priests who used to say I was young man who wanted to destroy the church. But with encouragement from some church elders, he never gave up.
“July 6, 1986 was a great moment in my life. Preachers from Kabale were preaching at St Paul’s Church in Ibanda and I felt the message was aimed at me. I got saved with my mother on that day,” he says. He adds that it was exciting though he had mixed feelings about his new journey.
In 1987, Bishop Mwesigwa abandoned teaching to do a Bachelor of Divinity Degree at Uganda Christian University in Mukono. There, he got more involved in Christian ministry. In 1990, he was ordained priest and posted as chaplain to Kibubura Girls’ School in Ibanda. He met his wife-to-be Alice Mwesigwa, who was the Scripture Union leader. The two later wedded in 1994.
The following year, he was transferred to Ntare School as a teacher. “Three years down, I joined Leeds University for a Master’s in Education and PHD in Religious Education,” he smiles adding that he returned and still taught at Ntare School up to 2004.
He had to go for pastoral work . In 2005, Mwesigwa joined Uganda Christian University, Mukono as a lecturer dean faculty of education. After five years at UCU, Mwesigwa says the calling to become a Bishop came in.
Becoming a Bishop was a challenging moment. “ I had spent most of my time in schools and never been in serious church meetings but thank God for His Grace.
Exciting moments
“Christianity has been on for many years but people have divided attention; one leg in Christianity and another as secular. During my ministry, I have preached to many who have abandoned their wicked ways,” he boasts. Bishop Mwesigwa says much as Christians need spiritual growth, they also need economically empowerment.
“As a church we need to stop the habit of begging especially from countries abroad. When I became bishop, Christians said,we know you have contacts from America, Canada, England so you are going to connect us for support and compassion. My response was you are compassion and you have the capacity to bring change,” he says.
He gives an example that Rutooma Parish in, Mbarara District gets Shs230,000 a month from milk while Kamubeizi in Isingiro gets Shs280,000 from banana plantations every month.
In education sector, Bishop Mwesigwa, says they have managed to strengthen inspection in schools by having the diocesan inspectorate of schools in all church-founded schools but also making priests, heads of laity first line inspectors of schools in their areas.
He adds that the diocesan education department has been strengthened and centrally sets its own exams to assess performance and standards.
Bishop Mwesigwa also says the diocese has been able to buy a Shs 510m commercial building in Mbarara Town and put up Ankole diocese millennium savings and credit cooperative society now worth Shs 1.4b and with 3,000 members.
This has not come without challenges. Men are not in church which he says impacts negatively on the spiritual growth and establishment of the church.
“Men have kept way from God, they think they can manage society but women are generally organised and stable,” he explains.
Another challenge he notes is self-sustenance. Some Christians have not mastered the gospel of prosperity and still live under the culture of lamenting and begging.
“Also many people are not deep rooted in Christianity and have continued to live double lives even some subscribing to both Christianity and witchcraft.
Bishop Mwesigwa hopes for a number of changes.
“It is my prayer that during my ministry as bishop our preaching makes a big impact on people. Religion should not be empty; the word of God should transform them to have life full of prayers and scripture action.”
The health of our people especially their lifestyle should be guided to invest and get money to sustain them at household levels.
On politics, Bishop Mwesigwa says the church needs to offer guidance on the right choice of leaders. For example, those who will not corrupt them with goodies at the expense of service delivery.
Lessons
“My favourite lesson is “Let those who are blessed with the power and soaring swiftness of the eagle fly ahead, I’ll go slowly but I too will arrive.”
Patience pays, people love to go fast to get things but step by step and being focused is better. Getting blessed money can do wonders, you can get all you want with the little money you have as long as it was gotten through clean means.
Quick notes
Most memorable : The day I got saved in 1986 and my marriage in 1994. Also, when I attained my PHD. The Lord has been very gracious to me.
Free time:. I exercise. I have a health exercise package from the diocese. I also watch and play football. I support Barcelona FC and KCC FC.
Family: I’m married to Alice and we have four children; Shibah Musimenta, Shivon Nsiimenta, Shaun Mwesiga and Shane Nkesiga.
