North Mbale Diocese Profile
The idea of birthing a new diocese independent of Mbale Diocese was flagged off in 1980 as one of the ways of expanding the reach for the word of God and in 1990, the dream came true and north Mbale Diocese was officially inaugurated by the then Archbishop Yona Okoth, the 5th Archbishop of the province of the church of Uganda.
From its inauguration, the diocese has so far seen four bishops not forgetting the caretaker bishop who supported the commissary that was appointed by the province to be in charge of the diocese for a period of three years before the third Bishop, Rt. Rev. Daniel O. Gimadu .who died recently.
At its inception, North Mbale Diocese had 2 Archdeaconries and 27 parishes, but now it has 7 Archdeaconries and 55 Parishes with over 240 congregations, however, the ministry has expanded and the diocese has more archdeaconries, parishes and sub-parishes.
Much as the ministry is evidently expanding, Bishop Samuel Gidudu says that now the challenge ahead is the shortage of priests since most of the serving priests are nearing retirement.
At its Inauguration, the diocese had the one All Saints Cathedral Buhugu, a church which was consecrated in 1932 and had since grown small compared to the growing number of Christians. Its because of this that in 2019, the diocese embarked on the construction of a state-of-the-art cathedral which is at the roofing stage currently with support from Hon. Nandala Mafabi and other Christians in the Diocese.
The diocese in partnership with compassion international has transformed the Christians, especially through school fee top-up and empowering mothers with skills for sustainability.
North Mbale diocese is the host of the historical Bishop Usher Wilson theological college, a college through which many of the former Archbishops, Bishops and other clergy went through case in point are archbishop Janan Luwum and Archbishop Yona Okoth.
However, for very many years, this mighty institution which also hosts the house in which Bishop Usher Wilson stayed has for years been abandoned although plans of revamping it are on the way including the proposed new name of Archbishop Janan Luwum College Buwalasi although there are still a number of challenges and shortfalls.
Having been among the Ugandan delegates to GAFCon 2023 that was held previously in Rwanda, the Bishop says that its high time the church and Christians at large emulated the message of the cross even as we prepare to remember the martyrs on 3rd June in Namugongo and another leader in different capacities have called upon Christians to come in big numbers.
