Uganda

                                                   photo courtesy of Andrew Ryskamp

Country Profile

CRWRC has been active in Uganda since 1982.  CRWRC Uganda and two Ugandan church denominations, the Church of Uganda (Anglican) and the PAG (Pentecostal Assemblies of God) have working relationships. CRWRC partners with the PAG National Development Secretariat and with four PAG church pastorates (districts) - Katakwi, Kaberamaido, Kumi and Kabale. CRWRC partners with six Church of Uganda dioceses (Nebbi, Madi West Nile, Lango, Kitgum, Bunyoro Kitara and Northern Uganda). These partners are recognized for their expertise in food security, adult literacy, community based health care, HIV/AIDS response, savings and credit, water and sanitation, and environmental programs.

Our Community Leadership and Development (CLAD) course at Uganda Christian University helps mid-level managers gain skills and competence in servant leadership.

CRWRC Uganda works in partnership with Christian Reformed World Missions, Timothy Institute and Partners Worldwide. CRWRC is also helping to create and nourish mutually beneficial partnerships between several North American and Ugandan churches.

Fast Facts

Population: 32,369,558 (July 2009 est.)
Area Comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon
Literacy Rate: 66.8%
Life Expectancy: 52.72 years
Population below the poverty line: 35% (2001 est.)
Gross Domestic Product per capita: $1,300 (2008 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 41.9%, Protestant 42% (Anglican 35.9%, Pentecostal 4.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.5%), Muslim 12.1%, other 3.1%, none 0.9% (2002 census)
Languages: English (official national language, taught in grade schools, used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages, preferred for native language publications in the capital and may be taught in school), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili, Arabic

(From the World Factbook. CLICK HERE for more information on Uganda.)

CRWRC Partners in Uganda

CRWRC has three large partners in Uganda, with a variety of smaller partner organizations under each umbrella.

1. Pentecostal Assemblies of God
a) NDS (National Development Secretariat).
NDS was established in December 2004 to help harmonize the PAG district development programs, and to enable church districts without functioning development offices to become more involved in holistic community outreach. NDS has engaged PAG stakeholders in joint analysis of PAG operations and in designing the strategic direction for PAG development efforts. NDS has also provided capacity building education to staff and board of local PAG development offices and to other PAG church leaders and members.

b) KIDO (Katakwi Integrated Development Organization).
KIDO serves rural families of the Iteso ethnic group living in Katakwi and Amuria districts. Some continue to be affected by violent Karamojong cattle rustling raids and the aftermath of the even more violent and widespread incursions of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels from mid 2003 to early 2004. More recently much of the region has been hit by floods and drought (2007 and 2008). The Iteso culture is based on cattle, and cattle are also used for plowing fields, so the loss of these farm animals has had a severe impact on the local culture, morale and economy.

KIDO is carrying out or has carried out the following programs:

• Food security through animal husbandry, providing training and credit for purchase of goats
• Food security through crop production, providing training and credit for planting of improved groundnut seeds and cassava cuttings
• Conflict resolution training for PAG pastors from the Iteso and Karamojong tribes in Amuria, Katakwi and Moroto districts
• HIV/AIDS response programs, including:
  ~ Prevention
  ~ Training of PAG pastors in compassionate HIV/AIDS response to church and community members infected, affected, and at risk
  ~ Palliative care
  ~ Food security assistance to groups of participants living with HIV/AIDS by providing them with training and credit for improved seed, goats, oxen, and plows
  ~ A beekeeping and agro-forestry program designed to provide people infected or affected by AIDS with a new source of income while also protecting and improving the environment

c) KMDP (Kaberamaido Mission Development Program).
KMDP serves rural families living in the Kaberamaido district, the majority being members of the Kumam ethnic group. Kaberamaido district was severely impacted by the Teso insurgency of 1986 to 1992 and by Karamojong cattle raids during this time. More recently most of the population was displaced by violent LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) incursions in late 2003 and early 2004. The Kumam culture is tied to cattle rearing, and the loss of these animals has had a negative impact on the culture and economy of the district.

KMDP is carrying out the following programs:

• Functional adult literacy
• Savings and credit through self-help groups
• Food security through crop production, providing training and credit for planting of improved seed and cassava cuttings and citrus

d) PDS (Kumi Planning and Development Secretariat)
PDS serves rural families living in Kumi and Bukedea districts, most being members of the Iteso ethnic group. Kumi district was not invaded by the LRA rebels in 2003, but hosted several thousand people fleeing from the conflict. The districts are still recovering from the Karamojong cattle raids and Teso rebel insurgency of 1986 – 1992, when most people lost their cattle. Parts of the region were heavily impacted by major flooding in 2007.
PDS works with local community development committees under the direction of the community PAG church. However, PDS programs serve needy community members whether or not they are members of PAG. PDS has prioritized working with widows, orphans and vulnerable children, with some programs specifically geared to helping orphan headed households. PDS programs include or have included:

• Income generation programs throughout Kumi district through grants and credit for oxen plowing, goat rearing, seed and cassava multiplication and horticulture
• Protection of water sources through digging and rehabilitation of shallow wells and boreholes
• Human rights programs, focusing on the rights of children
• Conflict resolution workshops for community leaders and PAG pastors

e) PAG Kabale
PAG Kabale serves people living in southwest Uganda near the border with Rwanda. This is a rural but densely populated mountainous region that is experiencing reduced soil fertility and size of landholdings. Communities along the international highway leading to Rwanda have felt the heavy impact of HIV/AIDS. PAG Kabale’s response to HIV/AIDS is to work to mobilize the church for ministry to those infected, affected and at risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS.

2. Church of Uganda

a) Bunyoro- Kitara Diocese-Hoima:
The Diocesan Planning and Development Office (DPDO) is the development office of the diocese that is located in Hoima district. Programs include food security (animal traction and sustainable agriculture) and health (water and sanitation projects and home hygiene). 

b) Nebbi District:
Nebbi Planning and Development Office: is the development office of the Church of Uganda in Nebbi District. This office oversees the implementation of community development programs by the archdeaconry planning and development committees. Areas this office and the committees are involved in include: Agriculture, Adult Literacy, Diaconal Training, Goat Multiplication, HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention, Malaria Prevention, Nutrition, Tree Nursery Management, Produce Marketing, Primary Health Care, Saving and Credit Schemes, Spring (water) Protection, Youth, and Justice.

c) Madi-West Nile Area:
Madi-West Nile Planning and Development Office: is the development office of the Church of Uganda in Arua District. There is one committee that has been serving communities in the Koboko area since 2004. The programs they implement are: Agro forestry, Agriculture, Diaconal Training, Goat Multiplication and Savings and Credit Schemes.

d) Lango Diocese-Lira:
Diocesan Planning and Development Office (DPDO): is the development office of the diocese and works in 2 archdeaconries of Aber (since 2005) and Aduku (since 2003). They facilitate the following programs in 28 communities: food security (sustainable agriculture using animal traction, increase in production of cassava for marketing and increase household income), functional adult literacy, health (environmental sanitation and personal hygiene), spiritual health (youth ministry in the church).

e) Kitgum Diocese-Kitgum:
Diocesan Planning and Development Office (DPDO): is the development office of the Church of Uganda. There is one committee under this office. They are involved in Research and Development. However, we are not actively involved at the moment due to insecurity. This is still a potential partner when security in the area in restored.

f) Northern Uganda Diocese-Gulu:
DNU serves communities in two districts of Gulu and Amuru. These are areas which were epicenter of a 20 year Vicious LRA insurgency. Over 85% of the population in these two districts was displaced but are now returning as peace has gradually returned to the area.
Diocesan Planning and Development Office: is the development arm of the Diocese and in Partnership with CRWRC works with three Archdeaconry Planning and development committees of Anaka, Kilak   and Ajulu .The planning and Development office has been in operation since 2004 and the  programs being carried out  in these Archdeaconries include

• Community health (Water and Sanitation, personal hygiene),and
• Food security (introduction of animal traction to expand on land under cultivation provision of seeds for cultivation , training of Farmers and enable people returning home  produce their own food to reduce dependency on relief).
• Savings and credit

CRWRC Staff in Uganda

CRWRC would like to introduce its Uganda team:

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