Rev. Ven. Chorey elected 5th Bishop of Karamoja diocese

___________________

The House of Bishops of the Church of Uganda has today (July 4) elected Rev Ven. Michael Chorey as the 5^th Bishop of the Diocese of Karamoja.

The House of bishops was sitting at Lweza Training and Conference Centre today (July 4).

Chorey will be consecrated and enthroned as the 5^th Bishop on August 25, at St Phillip's Cathedral, Moroto replacing Rt Rev. Joseph Abura who has been the Bishop since May 27, 2007 and also served as the Dean of the Province of Church of Uganda.

Rev Chorey has been serving as the Archdeacon of Pokot Archdeaconry, a position he has held since April 1, 2012 to date.

He also serves as the Parish Priest for Christ Church Amudat Parish.

About Rev. Chorey

Rev. Chorey was born on April 10, 1970 in Dingdinga village, the present-day Katabok sub county in Amudat District.

He accepted Jesus Christ as his Saviour on May 12, 1986 at a fellowship organised by the School Chaplain who was also a Church teacher. The message was, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord,” Romans 6:23.

He was ordained as a Deacon on July 13, 2003, and became a priest on December 18, 2005.

Rev. Chorey is married to Rev. Canon Jane Chorey with whom they have planted 24 Churches which are now under Pokot Archdeaconry.

Rev. Chorey holds a Master of Arts in Theology and Development and a Bachelor of Divinity from Uganda Christian University. He is currently in the completion stages of his Doctor of Philosophy in Theology and Development at Uganda Christian University.

He has undergone many trainings including monitoring and evaluation for HIV/AIDS, basic training of Trainer of trainers (TOT) for advocacy, peace, and small arms monitoring, and attended a leadership training at the Anglican Leadership Institute in South Carolina, USA.

He has translated manuals for Alternative Basic Education for Karamoja (ABEC), translated the Parliamentary ACT of 2010 of prohibition of female genital mutilation, and many other documents aimed at creating awareness of HIV/AIDS, drugs and neglected diseases.

On June 29, a 15-member nomination committee gathered at the Karamoja diocesan headquarters in Moroto town for a special convention to nominate two people for the seat.

The board presented the two names to the province of the Church of Uganda, who will in turn handover to the house of bishops to elect the successor. All the suitable   candidates have worked in the entire 48 year-old Karamoja diocese for a decade as priests.

The background

The first, white Bishop Brian Herd became a bishop in 1976 taking the entire Karamoja province. However, he was deported by Idi Amin in 1977 under mysterious circumstances.

The second Bishop Howls Davies, worked in the 1980’s he also retired under cagey circumstances without handing over the tools.

Bishop Lomongin, who was the third bishop for the Karamoja diocese 1986- 2006, ‘passed over a natural cause. He however, did not pass on the crozier to the successor Rt. Rev. Bishop Abura.

The 4th Bishop Joseph Abura saw the split of Karamoja province giving birth to North Karamoja diocese in July 2007, one month later after his consecration.

Then, Rt. Rev. Bishop James Nasak –Emeritus took over the new diocese till retirement last year.

But will Karamoja diocese witness the transition this time in history on August 28, 2024?