The movement in Uganda joined, last October, the large Family of Ascending Life International
Here's what their leaders tell us about the situation of seniors in the country.
In Uganda only 4% of the population are over 60 years of age. Most of the elderly live in villages, work on farms and have no social security or regular income. Unfortunately, all the government's actions to improve the rights and well-being of older people had only relatively limited effects.
The elders have become a neglected generation forgotten by both the Church and society. The specific challenges they face are:
Loneliness.
Elders are left alone in villages deserted by the youngest, unaided, vulnerable and rarely visited. They are more and more often suffering from depression.
Poverty.
Their very low incomes limit their movements and they are poorly considered in the activities of the Church. It affects both their self-esteem and the development of their spirituality.
Poverty of the health care system
Getting drinking water in Africa requires long, difficult walks for older people who frequently drink contaminated water. In addition, the remoteness of medical centres makes access to care difficult
Discrimination due to age
Their role as wise men and memory keepers in the villages, which brought them the respect of other generations, gradually disappeared. In times of crisis or conflict, they brought stability and cohesion to the village community and became its symbol for the entire society.
The actions of ACME (Christian Association of the Elderly)
The ACME Association of Margaret and Charles Atim, present at the international meeting in Santo Domingo, organized at the end of August 2019 a retreat to raise awareness among retirees and elderly people of the Catholic Church in Uganda, with the theme: The Christian Mission of Seniors
Father Gregory Mashtaki of Tanzania, Spiritual Advisor for English-speaking Africa was present and shared his experience with the participants.
The retreat, which brought together about 45 people from 10 dioceses in Uganda, aimed to:
- Identify the specific situations of the elderly in dioceses
- Share ideas to enrich the evangelization program for retirees and seniors
- Debate and take a position on the project of forming an association for the elderly in the Catholic Church.
The expectations of the participants were very numerous, and many topics were discussed, including:
- understand the role that older people can have in the Church and in society
- assess the sustainability of an elderly people’s association in Uganda
- learn how the elderly can pass on the faith to grandchildren, youth and members of the Church
- appreciate the gift of age
- help retirees join the association
- learn how to encourage and organize senior’s interactions in dioceses
- Learn how to engage young people in the care of the elderly
- organize annual meetings, workshops, conferences
- learn to appreciate the things of life
- how to access information about and of interest to older people
- how to solve land and inheritance problems in families
- form groups in villages, parishes
- how older people can get involved in politics
- with the help of the association, how to reach the elderly in the Church and in the community
"The task is immense, the need is urgent, the timing is crucial and being an elderly person is a vocation with a mission" is how Bishop Richard Kayondo of the Diocese of Lugazi spoke at the conclusion of the meeting.
From September 30 to October 4, 2019, retirees and seniors from the St Augustine Catholic Association of Tanzania with Father Gregory Mashtaki travelled to Uganda for the Martyrs' Pilgrimage. They were welcomed by Margaret and Charles Atim of the ACME association. On 1 October, the International Day of Older Person was celebrated in union of prayers with seniors from Africa and around the world and their families.
Following the inauguration of the movement on 4 October in Uganda and its entry into the large Family of Life Ascending International, the emphasis was placed on the need for mutual cooperation for the creation of Ascending Life in the Anglo-Africans countries.
In conclusion of these days of meeting, it was recalled some challenges facing the Anglo-African team.
In the case of Uganda, bringing retirees or the elderly to meet is still a new concept. Most people retire to the countryside in complete isolation. This requires vigorous awareness and workshops to get people to have the same mindset. This means frequently gathering people in a common place, identified as was done last August. "United and committed" is the way to success. Regional and international assistance will be requested.
Page prepared by Monika Ptak
Excerpts from the August 2019 retirement report
Pilgrimage of the Ugandan Martyrs in October 2019