By Agency
The Catholic Church in Uganda is facing a critical shortage of mass wine. Wine is one of the important items at the altar for the holy Eucharist.
It is emerging that the shortage which has been in place right since the Lent period is likely to bite further because of the war in the Middle East has affected shipments to Uganda as well.
JW InterServices Ltd, the Church’s holding company charged with international procurement has notified dioceses of the problem, urging them to use what is in stock sparingly.
According to the April 30th, 2024 letter referenced 240430/Admin/Tr1 written by the company’s managing director, Rev Fr Asiku Alfred Tulu, wine had been expected to arrive in the country by the beginning of April but this may only be actualized only at the end of May, owing to change of routes.
The company belongs to the Catholic Episcopal Conference in Uganda and handles the Church’s international procurement and some internal ones.
The war that has raged on since October 7th, 2024 when the Palestinian Hamas fighters attacked Israel killing some tens and abducting over one hundred Jews, has seen many other state and non-state actors sucked into the conflict, leading to the Red Sea, a major navigation route becoming unsafe for trade vessels.