By Kaleb Yiiki

Arua

At least 50 percent of the Seventh See’s Charge has been achieved within the Six years in the Service of God in the Church of Uganda in Madi West Nile Diocese. The Diocesan Bishop of Madi and West Nile, the Right Reverend Charles Collins Andaku, was consecrated on 2nd March 2017. He replaced Bishop Joel Obetia, who retired from service. In his Charge themed as “Love one another”, taken from the Book of the Gospel of John 15:17; Bishop Collins purposed to streamline staff and Clergy Welfare, Mission, church Land, Stewardship, Health, Environment, and Education for socio economic transformation.

During his Speech at his Coronation, Bishop Collins purposed to revitalize Mission to address challenges of youth unemployment, drug abuse, land wrangles and unguided western culture eroding the moral fabric in the diocese and for generations to come. He also purposed to give special attention to the refugees in the camps through partnership with all the actors, both government and no state actors. Bishop Collins purposed to Work towards economic empowerment of the Christians for self-sustainability.

The  vision of Madi West Nile Diocese  is a faster Growing sustainable Christ Centered Church; with a mission to proclaim the Gospel in accordance with Christ’s mission, to make disciples of all nations; through Godliness, Faithfulness, Integrity, Selfless Service, Unconditional Love, Unity in Christ and upholding biblical Values.  We want to take a peek into the past Six years of Bishop Collins Andaku’s tenure; to ascertain the Achievements, Challenges, lessons learnt and Way forward.

Among other Milestones in the Six years of Bishop Collins include: Time management by Clergy and Christians in Church programs, All Archdeaconries having Bank Accounts and doing Financial Transactions through the Bank; which made Auditing process possible. Others include: 79 Church Land secured with land titles, renovation of the Old Cathedral as Children’s Church, over 35,000 tree seedlings given out to be planted to Christians  with many surviving. Capacity Building of the Clergy by sending them for Furthers Studies. Establishment of Demonstration Gardens (13 acres at Mvara in Arua City and 8 acres in Arivu in Vurra).


Jessica Munguleni, the head of Department for Household and Community Transformation

Jessica Munguleni, the head of Department for Household and Community Transformation says, with the Help of Compassion International, Madi West Nile Diocese has been able to reach out to 4000 persons of Concern (Refugees) in the areas of Livelihood including Single headed Households, Child headed Households, Children and Elderly persons living with Disability and those with Mental Problems among others. She says that in their Response, Diocese has been able to offer Psychosocial Support to persons showing signs and Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, deliver Food and Construct over 100 Pit Latrines. Other Structural Developments already accomplished included class room construction for ECD center in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement camp in Yumbe District. “The Diocese received a tractor from the Ministry of Agriculture to enable households to open more land at 100,000 Ugandan Shillings per acre”. She revels.
   
Nasser Godfrey, the Diocesan Secretary Madi West Nile Diocese says that, the Diocese has a running Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau (UPMB); to construct a Maternity Ward in Anyavu Health Centre II in Arua District and Anyiribu Health Centre II in Madi Okollo District. He continued to reveal that with Funding from UNICEF, the Diocese has been able to equip at least 45 Early Childhood Centers at Refugee Settlement Camps. In The Areas of Investment, Godfrey intimates that the Perimeter Walls of the Diocesan Head Quarters have been constructed where Lockup Shops have also been constructed for rentals. “Out of the 13 Archdeaconries we now have 12 Vehicles and over 50 Parishes have motorcycles to aid the Archdeacons and the Parish Priests to move around. All this is with the support of the Christians who have responded to the Call made by the Lord Bishop.” He applauds. 


Nasser Godfrey, the Diocesan Secretary Madi West Nile Diocese
 
The Rt. Reverend Collins Andaku, the Bishop of Madi West Nile Diocese says, within the Six Years of His reign, he has administered the sacrament of confirmation to over 26,000 Christians, appointed 8 new Archdeacons out of which 3 are females. He has also been able to Personally Officiate Holy Matrimony for 170 Couples, whereas the Diocese has registered 195 Churches Marriages with the URSB.  He revealed that New Departments were created including the Department for Household and Community Transformation and the Family Life Department where both men and Women have been brought together since the Department was only for women. He also says that the Vision to construct Jubilee Office Block Dream was birthed during the two major Celebrations that is: the Centenary Celebrations of Anglican Faith in West Nile and the Golden Jubilee of the Diocese. “There is some progress of love Unity and Team Work Registered in this Diocese, the Diocese held two major Revival Conventions where close to 700 People accepted The Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Am glad to report that the Diocese has grown to over 719 Churches, up from 650 Churches by 20^th February 2017. We now have 13 Archdeaconries from 11 Archdeaconries.” He Recounts.


The Rt. Reverend Collins Andaku, the Bishop of Madi West Nile Diocese

However, Low funding and Negative attitude have been cited as the Major Bottle neck for Bishop Collins in the Implementation of His March 2017 Charge.  

COVER PHOTO: Renovated Old Emmanuel Cathedral Mvara By Kaleb Yiiki