Clergy and their spouses from all parishes of the North Kigezi Diocese have gathered at Emmanuel Cathedral Kinyasano for the diocese's annual three-day Clergy and Spouses Conference. The conference, which began on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Hotel Riverside will conclude on Friday, July 17, 2026, with a commissioning service.

Speaking at the official opening of the conference, Bishop Onesimus Asiimwe told the clergy and thRiverside,es that he desired to live a life worthy of the Gospel he has preached to them. He said he had no other gospel to preach because he had already faithfully shared with them everything they needed to hear, urging them to remain steadfast in the teachings they had received.

Bishop Asiimwe noted that ministry can be exhausting and emphasized the need for clergy and their spouses to regularly seek spiritual renewal. He said the conference provided an opportunity for participants to be refreshed, sharpen one another, and strengthen each other for continued service.

He reminded them that archdeaconries and parishes could continue to function in their absence, urging them to intentionally set aside time to sit at the feet of Jesus Christ and learn from Him.

Bishop Asiimwe also expressed gratitude to the spouses of clergy for their commitment and support, saying they had made ministry fruitful through their partnership with their husbands and wives.

He commended them for attending the annual conference and encouraged clergy families to make their homes their first parish by intentionally nurturing their marriages and family life. He reminded them that a time would come when they would retire from active ministry, leaving the husband and wife to continue life together, making it essential to build strong and healthy family relationships.

Preaching from Isaiah 6:1–3, Bishop Asiimwe observed that, like the prophet Isaiah, believers can sometimes become distracted by earthly rulers and circumstances, causing them to lose sight of God's majesty and glory. He challenged the participants to continually behold the glory of God and not to despise the testimonies of fellow believers, noting that God often speaks through the experiences of others.

He further encouraged the clergy to cultivate a genuine life of prayer, emphasizing that they should not pray merely because prayer is encouraged by church leaders but because it is central to their relationship with God. He also called on them to be committed worshippers, explaining that worship is singing to God, not for God, and that sincere worship and praise bring down His glory.

The conference features a number of guest speakers, including Rev. Canon Capt. Titus Baraka, executive director of Words of Hope Ministries Uganda, former provincial mission director and archdeacon of Bbaale Archdeaconry in Mukono Diocese, accompanied by his wife; Lay Canon Samuel Bakutana, the Provincial Fathers' Union president and CEO of Inspired Leaders International; and Rev. Shadrack Muhumuza, a tutor at Canon Ndimbirwe Bible College.