| Caritas Moroto (SSD) History Highlights Historical Profile Moroto Diocese was established in 1965. It was originally part of Gulu Diocese of Northern Uganda. Initially, Moroto Diocese covered the whole of Karamoja region with its first Bishop being Rt. Rev. Sisto Mazzoldi. In 1982 the Diocese received a second Bishop, Rt. Rev. Paul Kalanda Lokiru. However, in 1991 the diocese was divided into two to create the new Kotido Diocese in the north and Moroto Diocese in the south. The Bishop of Kotido Diocese became Rt. Rev. Denis Kiwanuka Lote. In 1992, Moroto Diocese received its third and current Bishop, Rt. Rev. Henry Apaloryamam Ssentongo. The boundaries of the current Moroto Diocese follow the administrative boundaries of the present day Moroto and Nakapiripirit districts with its headquarters in Moroto town. The Diocese shares borders with Kotido Diocese in the north, the Republic of Kenya in the east, Katakwi District in the south-west, Kumi and Kapchorwa Districts in the south. The diocese covers 14,133 square kilometers and has a population of about 370,000 people of whom about 160,000 are Cathohcs (43%).
In 1982, SSD started agricultural schemes in four wetter areas of Karamoja, namely, Karenga in present day Kaabong district. Morulem in Abim district, lriir in Moroto district and Namalu in Nakapiripirit district. The aim was to enable the local population to produce and circulate more food within the hunger-prone region. In 1991 Moroto diocese was divided to create Kotido diocese in the north and the present day Moroto diocese in the south comprising the districts of Moroto and Nakapiripirit. In 1992/93 the diocese carried out the first needs assessment in which the community identified four priority areas for intervention - peace, agriculture. education and water. From 1995/96 to date. SSD with support from CORDAID CAFOD & DCA have started addressing these priorities. SSD believes that it will make a contribution to long term development of Karamoja region through its strategic involvement in the areas of peace, sustainable livelihoods. development education; Community managed disaster risk reduction, and Emergency Aid and Reconstruction |
Year |
Activity |
1980 |
- Severe hunger and
cholera - Church appealed for relief aid |
1981
|
- The birth of SSD - Agricultural projects started in Karenga, Morulem, Iriir, and N amalu - Fr Mario Cisternino, 1st Development Coordinator. |
1982 |
- Rt Rev Mario Paul
Kalanda becomes Bishop of Moroto replacing the 1st Bishop Rt. Rev.
Sisto Mazzoldi - Pastoral plan drawn - SSD was mandated to carry out socio-economic development. |
1983/4 |
– Destruction of project’s properties |
1985
|
- Military coup |
1986 |
- New Development Cordinator,
Fr. Marco Canovi - Closure of most agricultural projects |
1987 |
- Drought and Famine |
1989
|
- Fr. Marco Canovi,
the Coordinator went for home leave. - New Coordinator |
1990
|
- 2nd Synod - Revival of agricultural projects |
1991
|
- Transfer of Bishop
Paul Kalanda - Funding mainly by CEBOMO – Bilance - Recruitment of project officers - Drought and famine - Diocese under Apostolic Administrator Rev Fr. John Peter Omoding. |
1992
|
- Rt Rev. Henry A. Ssentongo
installed as 3rd Bishop of Moroto - Severe famine - Appeal for relief. |
1993
|
- Restructuring of the
Diocese by CaRAT Mrica into 5 Departments - Creation of women's Desk and women coordinator appointed. |
1994
|
- 1st Needs assessment
done throughout the diocese. - Priority needs: Peace, education, Agriculture, water. |
1995
|
- Project officer, Henry
Gidudu appointed as Ag. Development Coordinator - Re-organization of Iriir Farmers. - Development Education program launched. - SSD receives 1st Institutional support from Bilance (Nov. 1995) |
1996
|
- SSD Commission appointed.
- 2 staff died of motor cycle accidents. - Coordinator resigned - 1st group of PDAs trained |
1997
|
- Chancellor, Sr. Molie
Ahern, appointed caretaker of SSD - Only 2 junior staff left in the department - 2nd group of PDAs trained. - PDAs work stopped. No allowances. |
1998
|
- Fr. Thomas Achia appointed
Development coordinator and in October 1998 sent for studies. - Gender policy documents approved. |
1999
|
- Visitors from Bilance,
Puck Flammang - Fr Paul Buyela appointed Assistant SSD Coordinator. |
2000
|
- Placement of Fr. Thomas as full time Development coordinator. |
2001
|
- Consultancy on Parish
Development Animators. - Various other consultancies - 1st contact with SNV |
2002
|
- Project proposal approved
by Cordaid for 2002 - 2005. - Re-employment of PDAs III "Regina Mundi, Na'kapiripirit, Tapac and Amudat. - Iriir Farmer's Society activities decentralized to sub-working groups. |
2003
|
- Plans to develop strategic plan - visioning process facilitated by SNV |
2004
|
- Baseline survey: wetter
and drier areas. - Strategic plan development, facilitated by SNV (2006-2010) - On 8th October, Mr. Joseph Lorika (Community Development Officer) was Killed in an ambush in SSD Vehicle. |
2005
|
- End of project phase
(INCODEP I) - In September Mr. Odong Mathew (SSD Driver) died. - Contract of staff ended. |
2006
|
- New project phase
(INCODEP II) - 2006-2008 - Recruitment of staff, for the first time the department gets full staffing. |