2026 THEME: ANCHORED IN CHRIST FOR UNITY, STABILITY AND PEACE EPH.2:14-17

Bishop Commissions New Diocesan Union Leaders

The Bishop of the Diocese of Madi–West Nile, Rt. Rev. Dr. Charles Collins Andaku, on Friday 6th February 2026, commissioned newly elected Diocesan Union leaders for the Fathers’ Union (FU), Mothers’ Union (MU), and Christian Women Fellowship (CWF) during a service held at the Diocesan Resource Room, Mvara.

The newly commissioned leaders are: Canon Onesmas Dralega – Fathers’ Union President, Muki Asiki – Fathers’ Union Vice President, Lilian Adoke – Mothers’ Union President, Beatrice Asimasia Adiru – Mothers’ Union Vice President, Juliet Anziku – Christian Women Fellowship Chairperson and Avako Harriet – Christian Women Fellowship Vice Chairperson

In his commissioning sermon, the Bishop preached from the Provincial Theme: “Anchored in Christ for Unity, Stability, and Peace” (Ephesians 2:14–17). He encouraged the new leaders to exercise servant leadership rooted in Christ and to work faithfully in line with the Vision, Mission, and Core Values of the Church of Uganda. He further challenged them to intentionally align all Union programs and activities with the Church of Uganda Provincial Strategic Plan (2026–2030) for effective ministry and sustainable impact.

The Bishop reminded the leaders that their call is not merely administrative, but spiritual—aimed at strengthening Christian families, promoting unity in the Church, and advancing the Gospel through practical Christian witness. The newly commissioned leaders will serve in office up to the year 2030.

The service was attended by the Diocesan Secretary, Mr. Nasser Godfrey, the Family Life Ministry Coordinator, Rev. Canon Capt. Hellen Munduru, who presided over the election process, former Union leaders, as well as Archdeaconry Union Chairpersons and their executives.

The Diocese congratulates the new leaders and commits them to God’s grace and guidance as they take up this important responsibility in the life and mission of the Church.

Issued by:
Diocesan Communications
Diocese of Madi–West Nile

What we stand for

In our Diocese we cherish partnerships, brotherhood, exemplary leadership and accountability.

You will find our agreed  vision, mission & values explained here.

Care for the natural environment

Diocesan Environmental Strategy:

The overall goal of the diocesan environmental strategy is the improvement of people’s livelihoods as a means of alleviating poverty while restoring the environment. This is in response to some environmental related challenges like:-

1. Pressing food needs leading to massive tree cutting and bush burning to create farm lands
2. Fuel challenges, leading to indiscriminate cutting of trees for firewood and charcoal with no regard of what the next generation will survive on.
3. Clearing of bushes and trees for settlement e.g. refugee settlements
4. Indiscriminate dumping of rubbish and waste e.g. littering the environment with elements that destroy the environment like plastic bottles and polythene bags.
5. Destruction of water sources-the swamps through cultivating and building in swamps
6. The absence of green spaces for relaxation and natural beauty.

Diocesan Interventions:

As a diocese our interventions encompass the following broad aspects:

• Fulfilling our God given mandate to work and care for the environment.
• Land protection and use through tree growing to improve  income at  all levels
• Awareness creation, sensitization and capacity building
• Local community and Stakeholders involvement and participation
• The diocese established structures:- department of Household and Community Transformation, Archdeaconry HCT focal persons and Tree Wardens to head this drive.
• Sustainable tree growing, of environmentally beneficial trees in every Archdeaconry, Parish, Congregation and Institution of the Diocese and every Christian to plant a few trees annually, raise awareness among the youth through encouraging  confirmation candidates to embrace environmental stewardship  by contributing 1000/= to tree growing.
• Establishment of diocesan/archdeaconry/parish/Church/household/ institutional tree growing projects
• Tree growing is based on the ability of the tree to
• Recovery of the environment- Natural regeneration/re-grows
• Provide a Commercial benefit e.g ; for poles or firewood or bee keeping.
• Ease to protect the trees against animals and fire,
• Policy establishment: The Diocesan Council, in 2018 designated a specific Sunday, the 3^rd Sunday of every March as Tree Sunday, celebrated across the diocese, and the week preceding this Sunday is dedicated as environmental week. This Annual Tree Sunday and environmental week is used as a platform to educate/sensitize/ motivate Christians, churches, parishes and archdeaconries in tree  growing and environmental stewardship
• Tree growing(g indigenous and fruit trees) as a component of the environment strategy to conserve the environment:-
• Nurture ,Protection and management of planted trees
• Establishment of green spaces, like Bishops/Archdeaconry green spaces/gardens,
• Targeted tree planting, Diocese integrates tree growing and environmental interventions in her annual plans;

We have been celebrating tree Sunday since 2018 annually with a chosen archdeaconry, parish and church as the official function, these sites are chosen purposefully, for example in

• 2019 Driwala parish in Terego Archdeaconry 3 acres of were grown and standing to this day.
• 2020 Function was postponed due to Covid
• 2021 Muni Parish in Oyibu Archdeaconry, 1 acre was demarcated for tree planting
• 2022 Afogi Parish in Madi Archdeaconry, Moyo District, an Orchard was established in Afogi Primary school and I acre demonstration plot allocated for agroforestry.
• 2023 Cathedral, trees were planted on Cathedral Compound.
• 2024 Aliso Church, Rikii parish, Arua Archdeaconry, backfilled already established 1 acre of trees and planned expansion, they raised over 500,000 shillings for tree growing.
• 2025 Wolo Parish in Aringa Archdeaconry, 715 assorted trees to fill gaps and spaces gaps in the  5 acres of indigenous trees .

Openness and transparency

To increase openness and transparency the diocese has also started annual auditing of our books of accounts, starting at the diocesan level and rolling out to the  Archdeaconries. You will find a summary of our finances 

Communications

We have ambitious objectives and have already achieved a lot as a diocese – but sometimes those things may go unnoticed elsewhere.

We therefore encourage you to explore the wonderful ministry, initiatives and activities in the various departments & archdeaconries of the diocese.

Working together

We invite you to join with us in sharing in the spread of the Gospel of Christ and the development and transformation of the Lord’s children entrusted unto us in this great diocese of the Anglican Church of Uganda.

Your prayers in support of our work are requested, and any donation or practical help you are able to offer will be most welcome. For further details please contact the appropriate manager or coordinator listed (by phone or email).

Recent Events:

The Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Ma’di–West Nile, Charles Collins Andaku, presided over the Diocesan Tree Sunday Celebrations held at St. Andrew Church of Uganda Ndiava, Ullupi Parish in Vurra Archdeaconry.

The day’s activities began with the official naming service of Ndiava Church of Uganda, now St. Andrew Church of Uganda, Ndiava. According to the Church profile, the congregation started in 1993 with 17 members who gathered in a home due to the long distance to their mother church. The church has since grown to a vibrant congregation of over 250 believers, including children, youth, and adults. St. Andrew Ndiava is one of the four churches that make up Ullupi Parish.

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