By Kaleb Yikii

Madi West Nile Diocese has transferred forty eight priests across the Twelve Archdeaconries. Madi West Nile Diocese of the province of Church of Uganda covers about 9 districts including Arua City in the West Nile Sub region. The Diocese is made up of Twelve Archdeaconries spread across the Nine West Nile Districts of Madi, Aringa, Koboko, Maracha, Terego, Vurra, Oyibu, Emmanuel Cathedral, Logiri, Rhino Camp, Arua Urban and Arua Archdeaconries.

The Affected parishes with the 2023 transfers  include, Biyaya, Aliamu, Openzinzi, Biyaya Secondary School, Eleke, Keri, Koboko, Macedonia, Canan, Nyarilo, Christ Church, Etoko, Otravu, Robu, Aripi, Aiivu, Yole, Obayia, Ibia, Jiako, Asaa, Druye, Etori, Ociba, Olivu, Aliba, Yachi, Ogoko, Ewanga, Aiibu, Olepi, Uribu, Endebu, Paminya, Offaka, Ovisoni, Eruba, Ayelembe, Tilevu, Lima, Luku and Kuluva Chaplaincy.
Reverend Canon Drapari Bayo Benjamin, the Diocesan Estates Officer says that they started the transfers on the Sixth January 2023 but in the Middle the Lorry Broke down but has now been reinstated with the Support of the Mechanics and that It is a Policy of the diocese that when a priest serves in a duty station for about five Years, such a priest is entitled to be moved to another Duty Station. He also elaborates on the Advantages of the priests’ transfers in that transfer gives opportunity for the priest to take on new roles that build their networking skills and offering building of knowledge and skills to prepare them for promotion. “In our Diocese, transfers do not necessarily result into increases in salary of the transferred priest unless it is transfer on promotion.”

The Madi West Nile Diocesan theme for the year 2023 is united for service and growth” (Ephesians 4:11-16) and one of the bishops charge for the new year is to uphold and promote mission, evangelism, discipleship, family life, children church and youth skilling and families to establish income generating enterprises for holistic development and raising house hold income levels.