Who will be the next Karamoja Diocesan Bishop

__________

MOROTO - A -15 member nomination committee gathered today (June 29) at the Karamoja diocesan headquarters in Moroto town for a special convention to nominate two names out of four senior clergies in the diocese so far earmarked.

The board expected to present the two names to the province of the Church of Uganda, which will in turn hand over to the house of bishops to elect the successor in the next few days when the team converges in Kampala in the near future.

The committee is chaired by the diocesan chancellor Mathew Longoli who will preside over the one-day exercise at the St. Philips Cathedral offices.

It’s expected that the group will vote separately to come up with the two names after a thorough critique and analysis of each individual.

Ven. Rev. Simon Peter Loduk, the Karamoja diocesan Secretary. (All photos by Olandason Wanyama)

So far, potential candidates have been set aside having worked in the entire 48-year-old Karamoja diocese for a decade as priests.

The senior clergies, who are degree holders except Ven. Rev. Michael Chorey presently pursuing a PhD at the Uganda Christian University. She is also in charge of the Pokot arch-deaconry in Amudat district.

Ven Rev. Micheal Chorey, the charge Pokot archdeaconry.

Others are Rev. Simon Peter Loduk, the current Karamoja Diocesan Secretary, Ven. Rev. Canon Joseph Lomongin, who is the present Karamoja diocesan development coordinator and Ven. Rev. Canon Joseph Aleper the in charge Bokora arch-deaconry in Napak.

Rt. Rev. Bishop Joseph Abura, the fourth Karamoja diocesan head is set to retire on August 28, 2024, when he clocks 65 years of mandatory retirement as stipulated by the constitution of the Church of Uganda.

Ven. Rev. Can. Joseph Aleper, the in-charge Napak Arch-Deaconry.

During his 17-year lease, he has been an advocate for peace and compulsory education for Karamoja children. 

Among others, he has fought the negative cultures that have kept the sub-region backward according to the goat shepherd, primary teacher-turned-bishop.

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.

Ven Rev. Can. Joseph Lomongin the Karamoja diocesan development coordinator.

Bishop Lomongin, who was the third bishop of the Karamoja diocese from 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 their retirement last year.

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