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Lira Diocese has joined Gulu Archdiocese and Nebbi Diocese in delivering food assistance to communities in Karamoja facing a severe hunger crisis, as the Catholic Church in the Ecclesiastical Province of Gulu strengthens its collective response to the growing humanitarian situation.
By Flavia Oyuu, Communications Office, Lira Diocese
The assistance follows an appeal from the Bishop of Kotido Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dominic Eibu, MCCJ, to fellow Catholic bishops in Uganda to support communities struggling with severe food shortages following prolonged drought and poor harvests.
In response, dioceses across the country launched food collection campaigns, with Lira Diocese mobilising Christians and other people of goodwill through Caritas Lira Diocese, the charitable arm of the Diocese.
Lira Diocese flags off 4.1 tonnes of maize
In Lira, the Vicar General, Monsignor Innocent Valente Opio, flagged off the Diocese’s consignment on behalf of the Bishop of Lira Diocese, Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok.
At the time of the flag-off, 4.1 tonnes of maize had been loaded onto the truck for transportation to Karamoja.
Monsignor Opio said the contribution was an expression of Christian love and charity towards people who are struggling to find food.
“We believe that if we can offer a meal to someone who is at the point of death, it can sustain life,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to Christians, priests, religious and other people of goodwill in Lira Diocese for responding to the appeal.
Sharing despite Lango’s own challenges
Monsignor Opio acknowledged that the generosity of the people of Lango came at a difficult time, as prolonged drought has also affected food production in the sub-region.
He said many families in Lango have little food left for their own livelihoods, yet they were still willing to share what they had with people facing an even more severe crisis in Karamoja.
“They are still able to sacrifice a cup or two, a kilo or so of what they saved in the house for their livelihood to share with those who have nothing to eat,” he said.
He described the gesture as an incredible demonstration of love and charity.
The Lira Diocese campaign, which had been running for about a month, mobilised maize and beans from parishes, households, farmers, businesses and other well-wishers.
During a press conference in Lira on August 28, Caritas Lira Programme Manager Francis Ojok said the Diocese had already collected about four tonnes of maize and more than 900 kilograms of beans, while appealing for additional contributions because the supplies remained insufficient compared to the need.
Gulu Archdiocese contributes food and other supplies
The relief effort has now expanded into a joint response by the dioceses of the Ecclesiastical Province of Gulu.
According to Rev. Sr. Martha Nambi, Communications Coordinator of Gulu Archdiocese, the Archdiocese has contributed 3.5 tonnes of maize grain, 843 kilograms of beans, 225 kilograms of posho, two sacks of second-hand clothes and UGX 310,000 in cash.
The Gulu Archdiocese contribution forms part of the joint consignment being taken to Karamoja.
Gulu Archdiocese, Lira Diocese and Nebbi Diocese are expected to converge along the route and proceed together to Karamoja to deliver the assistance as an Ecclesiastical Province.
The joint team was flagged off by the Archbishop of Gulu, Most Rev. Raphael p’Mony Wokorach, who blessed and sent off the team carrying the collected assistance.
The three dioceses’ joint response demonstrates the Church’s commitment to standing with communities facing hunger, regardless of the geographical or diocesan boundaries separating them.
A call rooted in Christian charity
The flag-off in Lira was preceded by a reading from 1 John 3:17, which asks:
“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”
Monsignor Opio said the people of Karamoja are brothers and sisters who deserve the solidarity of the wider Christian community.
He thanked the people of Lango for giving despite their own difficulties and prayed for an improvement in weather conditions so that families in Lango and elsewhere can once again produce enough food for their households.
“We pray for this divine providence so that in the near future we can have plenty of food in our homes that we can also share with those who are suffering,” he said.
The journey to Karamoja
The food collected by the participating dioceses is being transported by road to Karamoja, where it will be handed over to the Church in the affected area.
Government officials and other stakeholders in Karamoja are also expected to participate in receiving the relief supplies.
The initiative comes at a time when communities in Karamoja continue to experience serious food shortages, with vulnerable families struggling to meet their daily food needs.
For Lira Diocese, the dispatch of the 4.1 tonnes of maize marks an important step in translating the appeal for solidarity into practical assistance.
And while the people of Lango are themselves facing the effects of drought and poor harvests, their willingness to give from the little they have has become part of a wider Catholic response stretching across the Ecclesiastical Province of Gulu.
Monsignor Opio wished the team a safe journey to Karamoja and appealed for continued prayers for both the people receiving the assistance and those who contributed to the relief effort.
“Keep us in prayer,” he told the faithful.
