Almost six years ago on April 15, 2019, a fire broke out and devastated the Notre-Dame de Paris, a symbolic Catholic cathedral in Paris, France.
Amidst the global outpouring of empathy, the Russian Orthodox Church offered to provide the best specialists to assist in rebuilding the iconic French national symbol.
However, France declined the offer on the simple ground that the cathedral’s damaged sacred religious relics can only be handled by ‘their own.’
This stand is a universally known practice, especially when it involves religion and spirituality. In short, France’s response was that there was no business for Orthodox experts in a Catholic affair. When I juxtapose this stand with what goes on in Uganda, it is a slightly different story.
Fact is; the Catholic Church in Uganda has been very important in forming society—spiritually, socially and economically. From constructing churches, hospitals and schools to leading other development projects, the Church mostly depends on the relentless support of its members.
One important aspect, nevertheless, seems to be missed: economic empowerment of its own loyal people via equitable access to contracts for building and other services. Being a contractor and a devout Catholic, I have seen with great concern that Catholic-run companies sometimes find themselves excluded when time comes to assign contracts for Church infrastructure projects.
I am not alone when I say that the Church establishment does not always reciprocate by giving Catholic professionals and businesspeople top priority, even if Catholic congregants pay tithe, enroll their children in Catholic-founded schools and actively support development projects including school dormitories, hospitals and conference halls.
You only have to look around the recent major Catholic establishment projects to realize this situation that has left many of my peers uncomfortable. For instance, in spite of Christ The King Church’s cultural and spiritual significance to the Catholic community in Kampala, authorities contracted its recent renovation to a Hindu company.
The same goes for St Charles Lwanga Ntinda parish infrastructure project. I can even add projects for Lubaga and Nsambya hospital expansions as well as St Joseph Girls SSS Nsambya.
This is not a call to exclusion nor a means to diminish the professionalism of non-Catholics. It is more of an appeal for inclusiveness instead. If Catholic faithful are the backbone of funding the Church’s expansion, it would only be fair to see them gain financially from job and business prospects inside Church-owned initiatives.
Encouragement of Catholic professions and businesses strengthens the community, promotes loyalty and generates a sustainable ecology in which the faithful feel valued outside of their spiritual dedication.
So, spare a thought; have you ever seen a Christian-owned company work on a Hindi project? Never! Also remember, Libya had to fly in Muslim ‘experts’ to construct the Gaddafi Mosque.
Long story short, religious infrastructure bears immense spiritual significance that it should not be simply left to the ‘best bidder.’ Sadly, my own experiences show a clear difference in other religious organisations. Some years ago, my company landed a contract to refurbish and update the Avondale SDA Church in Lusaka, Zambia.
Everything was going nicely until it came to light I was a Catholic. Insisting that the project should only be finished by “their own,” the bishop intervened and gave my company orders to halt working right away.
In Entebbe, I also landed a building project for the Anglican church, but halfway through the work I discovered my employers were uncomfortable with my Catholic faith. Eventually, they kicked me out of the project citing worries about some holy and symbolic relics of enormous spiritual relevance not being handled by someone from another religious background or a non- faithful.
Although I admire the religious beliefs of these organisations, it begs a significant issue: why does the Catholic Church not give similar thought to its own if others can prioritise their own faithful for economic prospects?
Why do we still see rich Church projects given to businesses run by people who might not share in the Catholic faith while Catholic contractors are passed over? Long underlined by the Church are social justice and communal empowerment. It is therefore only reasonable that Catholic institutions actively assist companies founded by Catholics.
This does not mean excluding non-Catholics; rather, it means making sure that devoted members who significantly help the Church to flourish also gain from its economic possibilities.
Uganda’s Catholic Church has to consider this matter and establish surroundings where Catholic contractors, businesses and professionals are actively encouraged. By doing this, the Church not only fortifies its financial foundation but also creates a stronger, more self- reliant Catholic community—one that is not simply spiritually fed but also economically empowered.
Although I still serve my Church faithfully as a dedicated Catholic, I encourage Church officials to take this viewpoint. Let fairness and mutual support direct the path forward so that Catholic companies flourish just as they enable the Church to grow.
The author is an infrastructure contractor
