Gulu Archdiocese seeks over sh900m for national youth conference

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Gulu Archdiocese requires more than sh900m to host this year’s national youth conference.

The week-long event, scheduled from December 9 to 14, will take place at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Gulu city under the theme: “You are also my witnesses, because you have been with me (John 15:27).”

It is expected to attract at least 15,000 young people from over 19 Catholic dioceses across the country.

John Bosco Komakech Aludi, the finance secretary for the event, said they have already raised 60 percent of the earmarked budget of sh972.4m.

To meet the budget, Komakech explained that they have rolled out various fundraising strategies. These include contributions of between sh1m and sh10m from each of the 35 parishes in the Archdiocese, shs1m each from Gulu Archdiocese, Nebbi, Arua and Lira dioceses (GANAL), which form the ecclesiastical province of Gulu Archdiocese, and shs300,000 from each diocese across the country.

Other potential sponsors identified by the organisers include Catholic-founded learning institutions, the business community, and multinational companies, among others.

Komakech also appealed to people of goodwill to contribute items in kind to support the conference.

Monsignor Cyprian Ocen P’Akech, the chairman of the organising committee, said there will be several activities during the conference, including catechism, financial literacy sessions, motivational talks, liturgy, games and sports, as well as music, dance and drama.

He noted that these activities will help the youth learn how to relate to one another, co-exist, and be productive and organised in all aspects of life.

Archbishop Raphael Wokorach P’Mony urged the public to embrace the forthcoming national youth conference, which the Archdiocese last hosted in 1997.