New MU President Elected

From Left to Right , Outgoing MU President Mrs Doreen Omaya, Bishop Johnson Gakumba and the Newly elected MU President, Mrs. Christine Onyango The Diocese of Northern Uganda under the Mothers Union elected Mrs. Christine Onyango as the New President of the Mothers Union. The election was presided over by Bishop Johnson Gakumba at Anaka Archdeaconry in Nwoya District on Saturday 24th March 2012.Christine Onyango will serve in that capacity for a period of four years.

The State Minister for Northern Uganda Hon Atengo Omuge Rebecca was the chief Guest during the commissioning service on Sunday 25th March, 2012. The Minister applauded the Mothers Union for their remarkable role in strengthening families and helping their fellow women who have met with adversities. She donated 500,000 to support the Mothers Union activities; the minister also donated 1million towards the church building of St. Andrews Anaka. The Outgoing President of the Mothers Union Mrs. Doreen Omaya thanked the Mothers Union members for standing with her during her tenure of office. She asked the Mothers Union to work hand in hand with the New Presidents. Doreen also said she will continue to serve the church and stand by the new Presidents to continue uplifting the ministry of the Mothers Union. The Bishop of the Diocese Johnson Gakumba challenged the Mothers Union and girls to learn from Mary the Mother of Jesus, Mary was a humble lady and not popularly but she was picked by God to become the Mother of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The Bishop said that God can pick anyone from anywhere to glorify him.

The function on Sunday marked the annunciation by Angel Gabriel to Mary that she would give birth to a baby boy and his name to be called Jesus. Mothers Union worldwide celebrated this day by carrying out many activities, this year they had music competition, Bible citation, cooking and Drama among many. St. Philips Cathedral emerged the winner in this year's competition, while Christ Church and Anaka came second. 14 Parishes out of 24 participated in the competition. Students of Women Development Centre (WDC) also participated in the event. One of the former students of WDC, Grace Anek gave a moving testimony of how WDC helped her to stand on her own.

Mrs. Doreen Omaya the outgoing Mothers Union President

A New face for the Young people in Northern Uganda

Mr. Opio Samuel, his Wife Lydia and their two sons. For long the Diocese of Northern Uganda did not have a youth worker. But thank God, for the arrival of Mr. Opio Francis Samuel. Samuel was received to the Diocese by the bishop of the Diocese of Northern Uganda in February 2012 together with youth leaders of St. Philips Cathedral. We thank God that Samuel and the entire family is now settling in a well renovated house within the Diocesan Headquarters. Samuel is married to Lydia and God has given them two children. Before coming to the Diocese of Northern Uganda Opio was working with Campus Crusade for Christ International (In Uganda, known as LIFE Ministry Uganda). He holds Bachelor of Education, Business Studies; Accounting Option; Kyambogo University.

Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Waiting to complete research in order to graduate with a Masters in Management Studies from Uganda Management Institute; UMI). Special thanks to St. Peter Henleaze for the funds that has helped to renovate the building. We appeal to well wishers to support the ministry to young people in our Diocese. We are trying to rebuild our lives after the devastation due to the Kony war in Northern Uganda. Samuel Opiyo can be reached on: Contact: +256772584207, +256711584207 E-mail: sfopio@yahoo.co.uk and sam.sfopio@gmail.com

Bishop Johnson is taking Mr. Opio Samuel and his wife for a tour of their house in Mican.

Gulu remembers Archbishop Luwum

By Dennis Ojwee and Rev. Willy Akena

Hundred of Christians on 16th February thronged St. Janani Luwum Anglican Church in Layibi Central, Gulu Municipality to attend commemoration prayers for Archbishop Janani Luwum. Luwum, who was the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire, was brutally murdered by former President Idi Amin on February 16th, 1977. Luwum was reportedly arrested and killed together with ministers Charles Oboth Ofumbi and Erinayo Oryema after a rally in Kampala over allegations of criticizing Amin’s government. Speaking during the occasion, the retired Anglican Bishop of Northern Uganda Diocese, Allan Gideon Oboma, urged Christians to stand firm in their faith as Luwum did. He urged the government to make St. Janani Luwum day a national prayer day.

Oboma also said Luwum should be included on the list of Uganda Martyrs, who are remembered nationally and internationally. Anania Akera 99, a resident of Gulu, said Luwum died for truth and justice. He donated sh 1 million towards the construction of a modern church at Laliya in Gulu Municipality named St. Janani Luwum.

The Bishop of northern Uganda, Johnson Gakumba praised Luwum for drafting the first 10 –year’s development plan for the church when he was enthroned the third Archbishop of the Province of the Church of Uganda in 1974. He urged Christians to heed to their faith as soldiers of Christ saying their faith will help them overcome challenges. He appealed to Christians to put up a befitting Church in memory of Archbishop Janani Luwum. The bishop said if one person can put up a storied building how can the Christians together fail to put up a church building. Bishop Johnson urged Christian to read the book about Archbishop Luwum written by his secretary Margaret Ford titled Janani the making of a Martyr. He also said another publication of that Book is soon coming out and it will have a chapter that talks about how the life of Janani Luwum speaks to us today.

In another related development the Principal of Archbishop Janani Luwum Theological College Rev. Wilson Atine said, there are seven important things that happened to Archbishop Janani Luwum that are worth remembering and these are:- Luwum was the third Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Uganda, secondly he was the third Archbishop of the Province of Church of Uganda Rwanda and Boga Zaire, thirdly Luwum was killed with two others (three people killed), fourthly there were three wounds on Luwum’s body (mouth, chest and stomach), fifthly Luwum body was taken to three different places before burial(Namirembe, Madi Opei and finally Mucwini) Sixth Luwum was buried in the third grave , and Seventh, three things were missing on Luwum’s body (the Cross, ring and the attire).

Bishop Johnson quoted Janani Luwm words about educated people “Many educated people have run away from the church, they want the church to fall. But today I say, if the church if falling let it fall on me.” This was at All Saints cathedra Kitgum. Bishop Johnson said the church will never fall, instead many of the Christians, clergy or lay readers will fall but the church will remain strong. He challenged the educated people to come back to church and support it growth. During the prayer a total of over 10 million shillings was raised in pledges and cash for the construction of the Church at layibi.

All joy at the Uganda Prison Gulu

Bishop Johnson Gakumba took his time to be with the inmates of Gulu Government Prision as the year 2010 came to a close. Many activities took place among them were the baptism and confrimation, Holy communion, netball and football. Rev.Willy brings you a photo exhibition of the events that day. Finally the Bishop's cup was handed over to the winning team

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