THE Catholic Church in northern Uganda is geared for celebrations of a hundred years of the faith in the Ecclesiastical Province of Gulu. This covers the dioceses of Lira, Arua, Nebbi and Gulu.

Deciding the historic event, the regional bishops in January 2008, assembled in Nebbi, where their meeting resolved to commemorate the introduction of Catholicism in the
region by the Comboni Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in 1910. The missionary group entered Uganda along the Nile, from Sudan.

They landed at Koba, near Pakwach on February 17, 1910. [Note that the date, other than the year, is the same as the one on which White Fathers landed at Kigungu, in southern Uganda]. The Combonis, mainly Italians, were warmly received by chief Omach of Pakwach, who allowed them to settle and begin their Missionary work.

They planted the cross at Omach on March 6, that year. From there, with time, the faith spread to many areas among the Jonam, the Alur, the Kebo and the Lendu, now found in Nebbi Catholic Diocese.

Spreading the faith continued among the Madi, the Lugbara and the Acholi, in Gulu, and also extended to Arua. Through the years, northern Uganda has experienced numerous blessings that are fruits of the faith.

The faith influenced behaviour, notably lessening the occurrence of tribal or clan wars, which were rampant before. Love was fostered with the Catholic faith and other developments, like schools and hospitals, flourished thereafter.

Northern Uganda schools have not only produced academics, but also men and women of integrity. The faith has also tried always to guide the social and political life in the region.

Another area of blessing is the one of hospitals, which boast of some of the best health facilities in the country. These include Lacor, Maracha, Angal and Nyapea. Of late, the developments by the Church include the branches of Centenary Rural Development Bank and Radios Maria and Pacis.

The one hundred years of the Catholic faith will not be just a day’s celebration. As the gateway to the faith in northern Uganda, Nebbi Diocese is to see to the prelude of the celebrations. It will be followed by Arua Diocese in 2011, while Gulu Archdiocese and Lira Diocese, will host the region’s climax of the threeyears celebrations in 2012.

This Contributor is the Diocesan
Pastoral Coordinator, Nebbi Diocese

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