Uganda's Catholic church grapples with mass wine shortage due to Red Sea attacks
According to a report by the BBC that cites local African media, the Catholic Church in Uganda is facing a shortage of mass wine. The shortage is attributed to attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea by Yemeni Houthis.
5:14 AM EDT, May 5, 2024
These shortages began in February, prompting JW InterServices, a Church-affiliated company, to urge diocesan authorities to manage their supplies carefully this week.
Where does the mass wine come from?
African media sources explain that the Ugandan Church sources its wine from Spain. The journey involves transportation by ship through the Mediterranean Sea and the Suez Canal, then through the Red Sea to the port in Mombasa, Kenya. From there, the wine is transported to Uganda, which is located in East Africa.
Since last November, Yemeni separatists, known as the Houthis, have launched attacks on commercial vessels navigating this route. These assaults have significantly disrupted shipping, causing many to opt for a longer and more costly route around Africa, as Father Asiku Alfred Tulu, the managing director of JW InterServices, explained to the local newspaper "Observer." As a result, the wine initially expected in Uganda at the beginning of April will not arrive until the end of May.
