From terror to hope: The needs of the Orthodox Mission in northern Uganda

The Holy Diocese of Gulu and Northern Uganda constitutes a canonical administrative structure of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa, functioning under divine grace and my spiritual guidance as the local Archbishop.

This Holy Diocese was originally established in 2018 under the name Holy Diocese of Gulu and Eastern Uganda. However, due to the geographical vastness of the region, as well as the continuously emerging challenges, the Holy and Sacred Synod of our Patriarchate in 2022 deemed it fundamental to separate the two regions, Northern and Eastern Uganda, in order to form our current administrative structure.

Despite our unceasing efforts to spread the Holy Gospel of our Lord and extend our philanthropic work, our journey seems to be perpetually at the starting point, due to the serious historical upheavals that have afflicted our region since the 1980s.

Nevertheless, we draw courage, strength, and support from the Holy Trinity, continuing our work unceasingly, with the hope that through our missionary activities, the joyful message of the Gospel will touch every person for the salvation of humanity.

Our current needs

As briefly mentioned above, the needs of our missionary ministry are numerous and their prioritization becomes difficult. However, based on my personal experience, as well as the appeals of our faithful from various parts of our episcopal territory, I attempt to record them, so that through the benevolent grace of our Lord, the necessary help may be provided to the servants of Christ, both men and women.

The missionary ministry of our Holy Church is based on a holistic approach to humanity, treating our faithful as an indivisible whole. Therefore, the challenges we face, as well as our desire to overcome them, are guided by this fundamental principle.

Construction of Holy Churches

As the Church, which constitutes the Body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our primary mission is the spread of the Holy Gospel and the establishment of Orthodoxy’s presence in this region of Uganda. This purpose can be achieved through continuous catechetical teaching, the sacrament of Holy Baptism, and the construction of permanent holy churches, where our faithful will have the opportunity to worship their Creator in joy, love, and peace.

Taking into account the vastness of our Diocese, the construction of holy churches not only provides safe spaces for worship, but also makes the presence of the Orthodox Church visible and tangible.

A characteristic example is the sub-region of Karamoja, which extends over an area of more than 27,528 square kilometers. Despite our intensive efforts to expand our mission, not even one permanent church has been built yet, with the result that the faithful pray under the trees. Amid the great difficulties facing the region, the existence of a holy church can serve as a beacon of hope for our suffering people. The situation is similar in other parts of our Diocese.

It is worth noting that during the recently completed visit of His Beatitude the Father and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodore II, the first historic consecration ceremony of a Holy Church in our new Diocese took place—the Holy Church of Saint Catherine, in the province of Omoro. This blessing was for us a source of joy and strengthening of our missionary work, further reinforcing the urgent need for the construction of more Holy Churches in areas where the need remains vital.

Indeed, we give glory to God for this miracle of consecration, as the site where this Holy Church exists today was once the house of the leader of the LRA rebels, Joseph Kony, who terrorized the inhabitants of Northern Uganda. The transformation of a place of terror and fear into a point of spiritual nourishment, consecrated by our Holy Church, truly constitutes a living miracle for the people of our Diocese and all of Uganda! Glory to our Lord in the highest!

Educational Support

On the African continent, access to education continues to constitute a major challenge, depriving its peoples of the prospects for development and progress they deserve. Our episcopal territory is no exception to this sad reality.

The history of our region, marked by civil conflicts and upheavals, has led to minimal development of the educational system. The few existing school structures are, for the most part, inaccessible to the poor population.

Within the framework of the holistic approach of our mission, our Church considers it its primary responsibility to provide every possible assistance so that the African child may gain access to education.

Therefore, we make a warm appeal for every form of assistance, either through the establishment of school units in our episcopal territory or through the financial support of our children, so that we may secure for them a bright and hopeful future.

Humanitarian Aid

Care for the relief of our suffering people constitutes an integral part of our missionary ministry, which we cannot overlook. This is an area that, in our estimation, will remain constantly current and urgent.

For a series of years, our region has been experiencing conditions of extreme poverty, as a consequence of the civil war of the LRA Organization under Joseph Kony. This war left behind displaced people, deprived of every means of survival and hope for the future.

In the current situation, many are attempting to rebuild their lives, while others continue to wander, desperately seeking the path to survival and restoration. During this critical stage, the Church constitutes for them the ultimate hope, support, and beacon of life.

Our mission is thus called to undertake yet another significant work: to offer hope through the distribution of food, medical and pharmaceutical care, the provision of shelter, clothing, and other basic goods.

For this reason, we make a heartfelt appeal to all our brothers to contribute, according to their ability, in order to strengthen and relieve our fellow human beings in distress.

Opening of Water Sources

Northern Uganda is characterized by a semi-arid climate, a fact that particularly affects the Karamoja region and the broader northern provinces. For about half the year, these areas receive no rainfall at all, with the result that the lack of clean water constitutes one of the greatest challenges in the inhabitants’ daily life, both for their survival and for maintaining their livestock.

The only hope for these people lies in the beneficence of international organizations and the Church, who can contribute to the opening of water sources, such as boreholes, to meet the needs of local communities.

Within the framework of our missionary ministry and the spread of the Gospel of our Lord, we consider it our highest responsibility to ensure access to clean water for our fellow human beings, so that they may feel the love of Christ and the presence of Orthodoxy in their lives.

The strengthening of our Holy Diocese for the fulfillment of this sacred mission is absolutely necessary. We therefore make a warm appeal to all friends and brothers in Christ to mobilize with a spirit of mutual aid and offering, so that we may practically demonstrate our love toward our fellow human beings in the Holy Diocese of Gulu and Northern Uganda.