Karamoja Bishop Abura retires

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The Bishop of Karamoja Diocese, Rt. Rev. Joseph Abura has bid farewell to the Christians in South Karamoja.

Abura will clock 65 years on August 28, 2024. The Church of Uganda constitution stipulates that once a bishop clocks 65, he or she has to retire.

The new Bishop is expected to be installed in August.

Abura’s farewell service on June 21 was attended by over 200 Christians who thronged St Phillips Cathedral in Moroto town.

A section of the faithful singing during the farewell service for Joseph Abura, the Bishop Karamoja Diocese at St Phillips Cathedral -Moroto. (Photo by Olandason Wanyama)

The service was led by Rt. Rev. Simon Akol Aisu, the Bishop for North Karamoja diocese.

Commenting about his over 30 years of ministry in the sub-region, Abura said: “There is nothing that has kept Karamoja behind like idolatry.”

Abura said idolatry is the one number enemy of Karamoja region, adding that the evil practice has pushed youth to kill and steal animals.

 “Imagine they even kill without remorse,” he said.

The traditional practice of drinking raw blood from animals is the other cultural practice Abura condemned.

“The elites buy for them sugar or honey for mixing in the blood,” Abura stated, adding that they are drinking blood amid liver fluke infections in the animals and liver cirrhosis.

“Even when the fire was discovered 7000 years ago, leaders just look on,” he said, rallying leaders not to allow Karamoja to be known for backwardness.

The bishop emeritus for North Karamoja, James Nasak congratulated Abura for what he described as a “great contribution” towards the construction of the diocese cathedral.

“You have done a lot for the first time allowing Karamoja diocese to have a cathedral,” he said.

Abura’s farewell service on June 21 was attended by over 200 Christians who thronged St Phillips Cathedral in Moroto town. (Photo by Olandason Wanyama)

“You can now go. You have done very much in the last 17 years,’ Nasak said.

Nasak, who drew his sermon from Mathew 25:14, urged Christians to desist from abusing offices and positions.

“If you have an office, do the needful and deliver,” he said.

Abura’s farewell service was attended by various clergy and other dignitaries, including Moroto Municipality MP, Francis Lorika Adome and Amudat district Woman MP, Betty Chelain.