North Mbale

NORTH MBALE DIOCESE

Bishop: The Rt. Rev. Samuel  Gidudu

North Mbale Diocese
P. O Box 1837
MBALE

+256 782 853 094
revsamgidudu@yahoo.com

 

About North Mbale Diocese:

North Mbale Diocese is one of 37 Dioceses that form the Province of Church of Uganda. The inaugural Bishop of North Mbale Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Peter Mudonyi Bulafu, was consecrated Bishop on Sunday 9th August 1992 at St Andrews Cathedral Mbale, and installed as first Bishop at St Matthews pro-cathedral Buhugu on Tuesday 11th August 1992; therefore the Diocese of North Mbale recognizes 11th August as its anniversary date of establishment.

At its inception North Mbale Diocese had 2 Archdeaconries and 21 parishes, but now it has 7 Archdeaconries and 55 Parishes with over 240 congregations.

Requests for a separate North Mbale Diocese started back in 1981 by Christians of the then Buhugu Archdeaconry of Mbale Diocese. The first committee set up to advocate for a new diocese was chaired by Rev Gideon Nabugomu. Eventually the Bishop of Mbale, the Rt. Rev. Akisoferi Wesonga (RIP) wrote to all Clergy on 14th September 1991, notifying them of a committee of 15 Clergy and Lay Christians selected by the Mbale Diocese Synod, to prepare for the new Diocese. This committee was chaired by Mr Nathan Masereje.

The second Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Nathan Muwombi was consecrated on 23rd March 1997 – until August 2003. Bishop Muwombi resigned.

The Bishop Commissary Members were appointed and served from August 2003 to 10th December 2006. The Chairperson was Rev. Can. Theothorus Kikoso, others were Rev. Can. Stephen Wanzira and Astuluko Wetaka.

The third Bishop, Rt. Rev. Daniel O. Gimadu was consecrated on 10th December 2006 and served until 16th November 2014.

The forth Bishop, Rt. Rev. Samuel Gidudu was consecrated on 16th November 2014, and is the current Bishop.

North Mbale Diocese celebrates its Silver Jubilee:

North Mbale Diocese celebrated its silver Jubilee from July to September 2017. Celebration activities included:

  • Mass wedding on 12th August 2017 when 22 couples were wedded at St Matthews Cathedral Buhugu. The Bishop of Mityana Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Dr Stephen Kazimba Mugalu was the preacher of the day.
  • Sports evangelism competitions in Football and Netball, with tournaments starting at Parish level on a knockout basis, until the semifinals and finals between winning Archdeaconries. These games were organized and held in the spirit of love and friendship, and every team was a winner. Bulambuli Archdeaconry took the first trophy in Football, and the second trophy went to Soloko Archdeaconry. Buwalasi Archdeaconry took the trophy in netball. All participating teams were awarded certificates of appreciation.
  • Singing competition between Choirs, starting at Parish level. Kisakye Gospel Choir of St Matthews Cathedral, representing Buhugu Archdeaconry took the trophy.
  • Mission week with crusades held in all Archdeaconries from Monday 11th to Sunday 17th September 2017. Many Christians got saved.

 

In his Silver Jubilee message, the Bishop of North Mbale Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Samuel Gidudu said in providing quality Episcopal and Pastoral leadership to the people of God, the Church needs to address social-economic issues that affect the community, to ensure growth, sustainability and meaningfulness in the lives of the people. The Diocese has established an organic demonstration farm at the Diocesan Headquarters to serve as a centre for improved farming methods. This is so because North Mbale Diocese, given its rural setting greatly depends on agriculture.

Main Projects of North Mbale Diocese:

The Silver Jubilee Project chosen is to build a new modern Cathedral that will sit about 1,200 people. It has a section for offices and sanitary facilities. Construction of the New Cathedral will be launched on 2nd September 2019.

Another significant project of the Diocese is the establishment of a Tertiary Institution at the former Bishop Usher Wilson Theological College; the Archbishop Janani Luwum College Buwalasi, named after the illustrious Servant of God who was trained at the college and later became its first African Principal during the sixties. The AJLCB will start with three departments; a Department of Theology and Ministry; a Department of Education, and a Department of Vocational Studies. Currently we are in the process of rehabilitating the infrastructure, and we expect to obtain a provisional operating license from National Council for Higher Education soon. We hope to open to students soon.

Education in North Mbale Diocese

Child Development Centres (CDC):

The Diocese partnered with Compassion International which has opened five (5) Child Development Centres. However there is still need for more centres to support needy children and orphans in more Archdeaconries.

Church founded Primary and Secondary Schools:

The Diocese has 89 Primary and 12 secondary Church founded schools which are all government aided.

Through partnership between UNICEF and Church of Uganda, 25 Early Childhood Centres (ECDs) have been opened in the Diocese.

Some challenges we have with the schools include:

  • Failure by schools to make regular returns of the Church dues
  • We are not consulted during transfers of school Head teachers and class teachers, especially for O’level and A’level.

Boards and Committees of North Mbale Diocese

Planning, Development and Rehabilitation (PDR):

Since its inception in 1992, the Diocese had not formulated any development plan to coordinate its activities. In order to harmonize work in the Diocese, the Planning Board has now made a strategic plan, which is beginning to yield success, for example the successful celebrations of the Silver Jubilee.

For 5 years 2017 – 2021, our strategic plans revolve around:

  1. Church Growth
  2. Human Resource
  3. Development Financing
  4. Infrastructure Development

CHE Ministry:

A holistic ministry with a mission of transforming lives for transformed communities. The CHE ministry has

  • Conducted training for 139 trainers, 6 facilitators and 731 community health educators. Nine (9) Reverends were once CHEs;
  • assisted in setting up micro-finance groups in 16 centres, and we are now in the process of establishing a CHE SACCO;
  • started school CHE clubs in 2 schools, aimed at strengthening Christian faith with the young people.

Human Resource Development

We thank God for the steady growth of our human resource in the Diocese, and with the current trend we are serving the Church better.

We have 70 serving Clergy, nine (9) being Clergy women. We have 2 Clergy with Masters Degrees, 11 with Bachelor’s Degrees, 2 with Diplomas, and the others have Certificates. The Diocese takes training of Clergy as one of its priories, and currently has 4 students at Uganda Christian University Mbale Campus and 4 students at Uganda Martyrs Theological Seminary at Namugongo. One student is at Mityana, and we thank the Diocese of Mityana that has given the student a few scholarship. There is still a great need to train manpower in the Diocese and pray to God for increased sources of funding and sponsorships.

Challenges

North Mbale Diocese is a rural based Diocese unlike most other Dioceses in Uganda. The Diocese has steadily grown from 2 Archdeaconries and 21 parishes at inception, to current 7 Archdeaconries with 53 parishes and 239 congregations. The number of Clergy has increased from very few to the current 70 actives Pastors.

Despite the above positive outcomes from the formation of the diocese, there are some challenges facing the Diocese. These include:

  • Topological challenges: During the rainy season it is very difficult to get around, especially because of luck of transport means at all levels.
  • Manpower development: About 50% of the manpower is not developed to the level required to meet the demands of a developing diocese.
  • Low remuneration for Church workers and no pension scheme for retired Clergy and other workers.
  • Lack of viable income generating activities at Diocese and Parish levels.
  • Land wrangles: Our elders wholeheartedly gave land to the Church, but the land is being encroached on from all corners, mainly from descendants of the elders that donated the land to the Church.