From School drop out to role model

Anek Grace was born in Nwoya District to a Christian family. She started school very well and when she was in Primary Six in Purongo Primary School the rebels of the Lords’ Resistance Army abducted her. She stayed with them for two weeks and by God’s grace went back home where she sat for her Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) but because of the war she did not even see here results. They were then displaced from Purongo to Anaka more than twenty kilometers from their original village. Life in Anaka became difficult and she had to start selling food staff and charcoal in the market. In the middle of all these Grace got a boy friend and eloped with him, because she could not produce a child, the boy friend lost interest in having her as a wife. She come back home, continued with doing small business with little capital. Life in the squalid camp became extremely complicated, uprooted from home and not able to get food from their garden. When News came to Anaka that Women Development Centre needs girls who have not had opportunityty to go for further studies to join WDC in order to be given life skills training, Grace was selected and she successfully completed her training at the WDC in 2009. She was given a sewing machine but no capital to kick start, however, with her skills in small business Grace was able to start sewing clothes in Anaka Town Council together with her friends who also completed their training at the WDC like Aweko Catherine, Ajok Filder, Ajok Jakline, and Akello Grace, they first rented a room in the centre but because of few customers and lack of material the other members decided to try some where else like in the market and verandah of shops. In addition to sewing clothes Grace has open a small hotel in Anaka Town Council known as ANAKA FAMILY HOTEL , when asked why she named her hotel FAMILY she said she wants to be like a mother to all and that all those who come to her hotel should feel at home.

Anek Grace a former head girl and WDC share light movement with Lucy Apiyo the Principal WDC on 6th January 2012 in Anaka Grace also told me that both of her parents are alive but very weak, her father got an accident and has serious problem with the hip bone and unable to walk, he scrawl. He mother has Asthma. Although her business is not doing very well but Grace told me that she was able to save over 400,000 (four hundred thousand shillings) and that she bought a piece of land with intention of investing in it in future.

Adong Grace one of the students who completed in 2010 displayed her own made headgear (head dress) which has earned her some money during the last Christmas at Lakwana. Pix 3rd Jan 2012 Grace also told me that she is currently single and has no child and that she underwent an operation inorder to get a child but she has not got yet. She also told me that she fears having affairs with men who seems not trusted. She said her sister who followed her called Akello Christine committed suicide because of marital problems. The late Christine died because here husband divorced here with three children and life was unbearable. Grace is very optimistic that given more training or refresher courses and facilitation she could be a very successful woman and be able to support here self and others as well. Her experience as the head girl taught here many things and she is able to organize her friends to do a meaningful work.

Vicky Okwera a mother of Two in Lalogi says she is able to support her children because of the training that she got from WDC. Pix 4th Jan 2012

Changing the face of Northern Uganda

The Golden Jubilee Cake


Mother Union President Mrs Doreen Omaya and the Chairperson Clergy spouse Mrs Christine Onyango handing over a gifts to Rev. Merilyn Wilson
Students of Gulu High School
The Uganda Cancer Insitute van


Minster Kabakumba opening the Church at Musalaba
Minister Kabakumba Matsiko

Bishop Sunday Miller looking at the Order of service for ordination of Merilyn Wilson

Bishop Johnson introducing a team of Doctors
On November 26th the Diocese of Northern Uganda celebrated 107(1904-2011) years of arrival of Christianity into Acholi land and 50 (1961-2011) years of her existence as a Diocese in the Province of the Church of Uganda. This year’s celebration was the most colourful one in 42 years. According to elders, the last celebration that was held on the exact spot was in 1969, during the reign of the Late Archbishop Janani Luwum, who was then the Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Uganda.
President Museveni asked the people of Acholi to forget about the war as the government continues with its reconstruction efforts in the region.
At the celebrations which took place at Keyo Hills, Lamogi Sub-county in Amuru District, the President said forgiveness and embracing reconciliation are cordial virtues that could heal the wounds caused by the LRA insurgency.
“Bitterness will not take this area anywhere, people must forgive and reconcile with one another as the region redevelops,” he said, in a statement read for him by Minister for Presidency Kabakumba Masiko.
Mr. Museveni re-emphasised the government’s commitment to redevelop and change the face of the region that was wrecked by a two-decade war, leaving many people without viable livelihoods.
The President noted that the already existing reconstruction interventions would be enforced further to realise real rehabilitation. “The government has the readiness and will to do everything to stop bad memories of the war among the people through reparations. We must have the will to help our people out of bondage,” the President said. The President pledge to help the construction of St. Philips Cathedral and other churches using the Northern Uganda Reconstruction Programme and others.
The Anglican missionaries journeyed up to Keyo via Agung in Anaka Sub-County, Nwoya District. At Agung, they knelt down to give thanks and pray and that is how the name Agung, which means kneeling, came about.
At Keyo village, a big cross (Musalaba) was planted as a monument for the missionaries’ arrival in Acholi. The cross lent its name to the village which is now commonly known as Musalaba village. It is located in Lamogi sub-county, Amuru district, about 11 km from Gulu District. The cross was destroyed during the war; sources say the man who looted this place was looking for mercury which was put as a lightening conductor.
The missionaries wrote on the concrete base of the cross a declaration to mark the spot saying (here, the gospel was preached to the people of Acholi in 1904. Another concrete block conveyed the same message in the Acholi language “Kany Gikwongo tucu iye Jiri bot jo Acholi 1904”
A memorial Shrine like the one at Namugongo has been built and officially opened.
Bishop Johnson Gakumba called on the Acholi’s sons and daughters who were educated by the Church to give back to the community by contributing towards the building of churches.
At least two Deacons were ordained and these are Rev. Nyeko Robert Luku and Rev. Merilyn Wilson –the first European to be ordained in the Diocese of Northern Uganda. While delivering his sermon the Assistant Bishop of London, Rt. Rev. Sandy Miller called on the Bishop together with the clergy to be strong like Joshua in the bible. The bishop said things can be done because of intercession. “Get Godly men and Women to pray for you” the Bishop Sunday said
Four Deacons were priested and these were Rev. Otto Zachariah, Rev. Olara James, Rev. Kibwota Samuel and Rev. Kevin Olweny.
As part of the day’s event, a medical camp was organized by Dr. Margaret Okello a consultant from Mulago Hospital assisted by fellow doctors and nurses from Kampala and Gulu. The Uganda Cancer Institute took their vehicle for screening people with cancer. The medical services were as a way of giving back to the community, because Dr. Margaret Okello comes from this area of Musalaba and she is one of the first Acholi girls to go to the University to do medicine.
Bishop Johnson together with his Guest Bishop Sunday Miller led a six kilometers walk that attracted more than one thousand people. This was to demonstrate the power of God on this land of Keyo Musalaba which had been abandoned and vandalized during the LRA war in Northern Uganda. A visit to this place will certainly show a changing face of the Diocese of Northern Uganda. Many people now see this as a new day-a new beginning in the history of the Anglican Church in northern Uganda. Already more than 16 churches are under construction.
A day before the celebration a mass wedding of 38 couples took place at Musalaba.

38 Wedded at Musalaba Shrine

Today Friday 25th November 2011 a total of 38 coupes got wedded at Musalaba Keyo by Bishop Johnson Gakumba assisted by Retired Bishop of Kitgum Diocese. This is part of the big celebration being held here at the place where the first Church missionaries’ society preached the Gospel to the Acholi people in 1904. While delivering his sermon, the Bishop Mac Baker Ochola 11 called upon the newly wedded couples to remain loving. Picking from the so many Acholi tales, the Bishop challenged the young generation to think carefully before choosing a partner, because some people are attracted because of beauty or money.
Tomorrow Saturday we will have ordination of deacons and priest and the preacher is Bishop Sandy Miller. One of those to be ordained is Merylin Wilson, who is a lay curate in London

Diocese of Northern Uganda, Gulu celebrate Golden Jubilee, 26th November 2011

The Church today
An open air mission in the early years of Christianity in Acholi

The Diocese of Northern Uganda established in 1961 will celebrate her 50 years of existence; the celebration is combined with 107th anniversary of CMS missionary to Acholi land. This year big events will be held on the actual spot where the first missionaries planted the Cross (Musalaba). On 26th November 1904 the CMS mission station was established at Keyo and Bishop Alfred Tucker, Dr. and Mrs. Albert Cook, and Rev. AB Loyd were the key players. Later Rev. AE Pleydell and Rev AD. Kitching joined Loyd at Keyo. Keyo was selected by the missionaries because of its central locationl; the place is a few miles away from Sir Samuel Baker’s Fort of Patiko. The Shrine is almost completed. The Diocese is also celebrating 50 years of her existence since 1961 when the Diocese of the Upper Nile was subdivided into the Diocese of Mbale, Soroti and Northern Uganda.
In 2004 the Diocese celebrated her Centenary and Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi had this to Say” The celebration is also un usual and unique as it is taking place in Gulu where the armed rebellion by the Lord’s Resistance Army(LRA) has a devastating impact on the people of Acholi. The Situation is of ruins and desolation. It is painful and indeed it is un usual for the suffering people to Celebrate”
This year 2011 the story is different almost 99% of the people who had been in the camps have returned to their original villages and very busy rebuilding their lives. The area is very peaceful and free movement of people, animals as well as vehicles is visible even at night.
It is also a wonderful coincidence that the 7th Bishop of the Diocese has both his names having 7 letters each and is overseeing the 107 years of Christianity Celebration in Acholi land. See the miracle JOHNSON (7) GAKUMBA (7), SEVENTH BISHOP, 107TH YEARS. According to the Jew the letter 7 is a complete number.
The key activities will include: -
• Mass wedding, already over 45 couples have registered.
• Ordination of Deacons and Priests.
• Four deacons will be priested and these are: -Rev. Kevin Olweny currently a Chaplain at Awere Secondary School and Unyama National Teachers College, Rev. Zachariah Otto, a Chaplain of Keyo Secondary School, Rev. James Olara Chaplain at Koch Goma Secondary School, and Rev. Samuel Kibwota, chaplain at Gulu Core Primary Teachers’ College.
• Those to be ordained deacons are Merilyn Wilson ( Lay Curate at Holy trinity Church Brompton London UK) and Nyeko Robert Luku( currently caretaker Agung Parish)
• A one week medical camp is also being organized, and Dr. Margaret Okello a consultant at Mulago Hospital, one of the first Acholi girls from keyo to have gone to the University is spearheading this.
• A one week door to door mission has been planned.
• Finally the official opening of the Shrine that has been built on the sport where the missionaries first preached the Gospel to the Acholi People.
Invitation has been extended to the President of Uganda His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. All the Dioceses that were curved out of Northern Uganda like: - Diocese of Lango, Madi West Nile, Nebbi and Kitgum have also been invited to come for this celebration.
The Cultural and Political Leaders like the Kabaka of Buganda and Rwodi of Acholi had a zeal for what would bring change in the life of their people. Hence, they invited the Missionaries. We now have the challenge of keeping the fire of the Gospel burning even brighter.
The theme of the celebration is:”Arise and shine again”
You are all welcome to join us in the celebrations.

Set to be the United Nation Secretary General

Ocen Walter a Senior Four student at Gulu High School.

A Letter from Ocen Walter
I am very happy to communicate to you and I hope you are doing well still. I am Ocan Walter,one of the beneficiary of the Bristol Scholarship, I am from Odyak Village, Gulu District. I love my studies so much but I am facing difficulties in payment of fees because our fees is shillings 276,000 and you help is 170,000 Uganda shillings which is very good but I now face problem in clearing the remaining 106,000 balance because my parents now have nowhere to cultivate due to land disputes.
My good sponsor, I remain still a committed students, I attained 15 aggregates in our mock and was the best student, I do hope to get 8 for 8 aggregates in final exams. Hoping to join King’s College Budo because I would like to get government scholarship in A’ Level so I am herby begging with great hope that could you please meet the high fees of Budo King’s College for two years and enable me to get to University. My response towards your scholarship remain positive because my vision/dream is to become the future United Nation Secretary General so that many poor fellows in the World would get international Scholarship to study through me. I am determined to become! Yes I will through you taking me to Budo.
Finally my sponsor could you please help us by paying us in full so that we remain committed in our studies.