My name is Adaku Anicetus, born and raised in Maracha district. I was introduced to the Church by my parents, a month after my birth in May 1973 during my baptism.
Ifirst heard about the Comboni Lay Missionaries (CLM) from my “O” level schoolmate and friend, Simon Munduga, who had joined and become a CLM himself in 2001 .He had come to my college to pick his Academic Transcript and Certificate as a teacher to go with to Karamoja region to serve as a CLM and a teacher in Kangole Girls’ S.S.S, Kangole parish. When he told me about the CLM group in detail, I got inspired, applied, was admitted and joined the group in 2002. Comboni Lay Missionaries Uganda (CLMU) is a group of committed young men and women, singles and married couples who have felt being called, in a particular vocation of offering their lives to the evangelizing mission of the Church by following the Charism of St. Daniel Comboni. CLMU has lived for 23 years in the Vineyard of the Lord through its committed
members. CLMU envisions a society of youth and young adults who are transformed by the gospel of Christ and live a responsible, productive, happy and meaningful life, and its Mission is “To deepen evangelization in communities, most especially, among the poor and the most abandoned through our profession in education, health, managers, pastoral agents, e.t.c. CLMs participate n the Evangelization mission of the Church and witness to Christ through their own committed and sacramental life, by taking part in catechisms, animating Small Christian Communities, Youth apostolate, animation of mass, prisons apostolate, etc. among others.
Since my childhood, I have loved to do the work of God and serve His people. I joined the choir and the Alter Servers Association in my home chapel. After completing my primary seven in 1991, I joined Pokea Minor Seminary for “O” level, St. Joseph’s College – Ombaci for
High school and the National Teachers’ College – Muni. Consequently, my seminary life had formed me with the passion and love to
serve and participate in the evangelizing mission of the Church. This experience made me yearn for a belonging to an apostolic group of the Church. CLM group therefore gave me the opportunity to belong and serve the people of God not only in my local Church but to the greater
ends of Uganda and the world. As a Comboni Lay Missionary, inspired by the charism of St. Daniel Comboni; “To work among the poor and
the most abandoned, I have been moved with love and compassion to serve the prisoners with the word of God every Sunday and pray the rosary as my missionary apostolate. However, my missionary experience hasn’t been a bed of roses. My first assignment by CLMU was to
Karamoja where I served for thirteen years from 2003 – 2016.
The people of Karamoja are friendly and loving. They are open-minded and welcoming, especially when you are not an enemy of their animals, i.e. not a warrior/animal raider. This therefore, gave me the life philosophy that a good missionary in Karamoja must be an evangelizer, educator (Mwalimu), healthcare provider and protector of their animals. Likewise, in the Central region of Buganda,
Kasana-Luwero Diocese, Kasaala parish, where I have been reassigned, the people are excellent too, kind and welcoming. They are hardworking and preoccupied with their farms and trade. They are supportive of the missionaries with their material and financial resources.
Nevertheless, my missionary experience has also been a test of a bitter pill. The basic human needs like water, food, medicine and security are scarce. Many Ngikarimojong die of starvation and lack of medicine; animals die due of lack of water/pasture and many wananchi killed by raiders along the roads and in the Manyattas. Contrary to the above experiences in Karamoja, the Central region is blessed with
the basic needs of life. The missionary only needs to address the challenges brought about by the contemporary world like; materialism, witchcraft, superstition and drug abuse among others. In conclusion, I wish to say my missionary experience has been blessed by God’s grace. It has so much transformed my beliefs and attitudes to live with people in a cultural and religious diversity. May the glory belong to God, the Almighty Father.
As the Coordinator of the CLMU, my leadership priority aims to define and streamline the identity/ministry of Comboni Lay Missionaries in Uganda. The CLMU General Assembly of 2023 resolved that the CLMU shall prioritize The Youth Ministry for the common identity of all CLMs in
Uganda.
The Youth Ministry shall consider the catechism of the Catholic Church, Behavior Change programmes, Vocational Skills Empowerment, Youth Leadership Training and development programmes. Income Generating and project management and His Holiness Pope Francis’ “Laudato Si”
programme for the environment. We trust in God that the reorganization in our CLMU ministry will make a meaningful evangelization in the Church and hence achieving our dream for the Youth and Young Adults.
I call upon all God-fearing and loving lay people to join and evangelize the world as Comboni Lay Missionaries. As Jesus said “the harvest is rich but the labourers are few.We pray that the master of the Vineyard may send more labourers in to the Vineyard of the Lord.
