Odoki Jimmy
The Archdiocese of Mbarara Development Association is an umbrella association uniting all Catholics that hail from Mbarara Archdiocese. The visit by about 150 members of AMDA last October to Gulu district then now Gulu City may not have got the deserved publicity and recognition it deserves. Most probably it is because the church teaches humility and simplicity. AMDA is very popular in Kampala because they look out for members of their community and bring them together through the monthly mass celebrated from Kitante school. It is not meant for prayers alone but a chance to meet friends as well as networking.
Gulu Archdiocese was privileged to host our brothers and sisters from Mbarara Archdiocese. There were a number of activities including mass led by the Archbishop John Baptist Odama, sports competition with football as the highlight won by AMDA, Volleyball, interaction with the Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese, His Grace, John Baptist Odama.
Whereas this might have passed as an ordinary event, we have to look deeper at what this visit that appeared very ordinary means. Who initiated this visit? It is unlikely that this was an impulsive visit just for the sake of touring Northern Uganda. Unlike politics which is very divisive, religion, in this case the catholic religion, blessed with good religious leaders brought Christians from different parts of the country closer. The getting together of Christians from Western and Northern Uganda was okayed by their respective Archbishops, then Archbishop Bakyenga Paul of Mbarara Archdiocese and Archbishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu Archdiocese. Their exemplary leadership must be commended. They are good Shepherds. It is highly unlikely that political leaders can think of organizing such an event. In my opinion, this is better than the superficial reconciliation and truth-telling political leaders advocate for as a basis of coming together. Archbishop John Baptist Odama’s message to the laity of Mbarara and Gulu Archdioceses on the occasion of the visit was about humanity. He said, “We are all brothers and sisters. We should not be calling you visitors.”
Gulu Archdiocese is blessed to have Lacor Minor Seminary, Uganda Martyrs National Major Seminary, Alokolum. The Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese, His Grace John Baptist Odama, was Rector of Alokolum National Major Seminary before being appointed Bishop of Gulu diocese and later The Archbishop of the Gulu Archdiocese. It is during his time as Rector at Alokolum that he initiated the Foster Parents Association. Seminarians get connection to the local people through their foster families. As a family we are blessed to have foster brothers through this arrangement. They came home occasionally on weekends when they were allowed to come to town riding bicycles. We visited them on particular visiting days at the Seminary. Unity and strong bonds were created through the interactions with foster families. Archbishop Odama was really foresighted in thinking about the idea of Foster families and implementing it. Over the years Fr. Asiimwe Dunstan (Mbarara Archdiocese), Fr. Mukasa Peter (Kampala Archdiocese), Asiimwe Alex (Police Officer), Joseph Kalema (Makerere University Administrator) have become family through the Foster Parents Association at Alokolum National Major Seminary. Many other families in Gulu have benefitted and even travelled to visit or attend ordinations of their foster children.
His Eminence Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala on a pastoral visit to Uganda Martyrs National Seminary Alokolum in photo with Seminarian Alex Assimwe and his foster mother, Mrs. Aol Betty Ocan a couple of years ago. Last December the Cardinal celebrated his 93rd birthday
Working at Alokolum National Major Seminary Library was eye-opening. At the height of insecurity in Northern Uganda, Alokolum National Seminary had to be relocated to Bukalasa minor seminary in Masaka. I’m grateful to the then Rector who is now the Bishop of Arua Diocese, Bishop Sabino Odoki Ocan, for giving me the chance to volunteer in their Library. Alokolum National Major Seminary is one of the few institutions in Uganda that I have known to be very diverse from the seminarians to the members of staff. I was privileged to interact with seminarians from Alokolum and from the nearby Katigondo Seminary. Many of the seminarians I interacted with have since become priests; Fr. Ronald Okello (National Executive Secretary for Education at the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Fr. Peter Mukasa, Fr. Thomas Okello, Fr. Otti Mario (Lukome parish). I recall the brilliant and amazing staff, the Vice-Rector, Fr. Busulwa, Fr. Bwangato, Fr. Mukasa, Fr. Ogwa and other non-teaching staff like Peter who is a driver at St. Mary’s Hospital, Lacor, Achire who is very loyal and still works as plumber at Alokolum Seminary.
Gulu City is blessed to have The Catholic founded, Sacred Heart University. The greater North has religious sites such as the Wii Polo in Paimol where the Catechists Jildo Irwa and Daudi Okelo were martyred, Wii Gweng in Mucwini where Archbishop Janani Luwum was laid to rest, Mucalaba, an important Anglican site in Keyo, Amuru. These important places can play an important role in uniting us as a country depending on our hospitality at events at the respective sites. With the new city status, we should work harder to attract more visitors to Gulu City and live amicably with people from other parts of the country or international visitors.
Feature Image: St. Joseph’s Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese. Members of AMDA who visited Gulu attended mass at the Cathedral celebrated by the Archbishop His Grace John Baptist Odama
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