Welcome to Uganda!

CRWRC has been active in Uganda since 1982.  CRWRC Uganda is currently working in partnership with two church denominations: The Church of Uganda (Anglican) and the Pentecostal Assemblies of God. These partners in development through community transformation 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. Most of the programs are spread across the Eastern, Northern and North Western regions of Uganda, areas that have been affected by rebel insurgency and natural disasters such as floods and drought.

CRWRC helps to support the work of six Church of Uganda dioceses – Bunyoro Kitara, Nebbi, Madi West Nile, Lango, Kitgum, and Northern Uganda. Our Community Leadership and Development (CLAD) course at Uganda Christian University (of the Church of Uganda) in Mukono helps mid-level managers gain skills and competence in servant leadership.

CRWRC works in support of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG) National Development Secretariat and with four PAG church pastorates (church districts) in the government districts of Katakwi, Amuria, Kaberamaido, Kumi, Bukedea and Kabale. We also partner with Christian Reformed World Missions in support of pastoral education for community transformation at the Pentecostal Theological College in Mbale.

Through church to church partnerships, CRWRC Uganda is helping to create and nourish mutually beneficial relationships between several North American and Ugandan churches.

FAST FACTS

Population: 32,369,558 (July 2009 est.)
Total Fertility Rate: 6.77 children born/woman (2009 est. – second highest in the world)
Urban Population: 13% of total population (2008)
Area Comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon
Literacy Rate: 66.8% (Male 76.8%, Female 57.7% (2002 census)
Life Expectancy: 52.72 years (Male 51.66, Female 53.81 (2009 est.)
Population below the poverty line: 35% (2001 est.)
Gross Domestic Product per capita: $1,300 (2009 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)
Ethnic Groups: Baganda 16.9%, Banyakole 9.5%, Basoga 8.4%, Bakiga 6.9%, Iteso 6.4%, Langi 6.1%, Acholi 4.7%, Bagisu 4.6%, Lugbara 4.2%, Banyoro 2.7%, other 29.6% (2002 census)
Languages: English (official national language), Luganda, other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili, Arabic.

(From the World Factbook. Click here for more information)

CRWRC Partners in Uganda

Pentecostal Assemblies of God

National Development Secretariat (NDS)
NDS was established in December 2004 to help harmonize the PAG district development programs, and to enable church pastorates 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.

Katakwi Integrated Development Organization (KIDO)
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 morale, culture and economy.

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

1. Food security through animal husbandry, providing training and credit for purchase of goats 
2. Food security through crop production, providing training and credit for planting of improved groundnut seeds and cassava cuttings 
3. Conflict resolution training for PAG pastors from the Iteso and Karamojong ethnic groups in Amuria, Katakwi and Moroto districts 
4. HIV/AIDS response programs, including:

Kaberamaido Mission Development Program (KMDP)
KMDP serves rural families living in Kaberamaido district, the majority being members of the Kumam ethnic group but also including Iteso. Kaberamaido district was severely impacted by the Teso insurgency of 1986 to 1992 and by Karamojong cattle raids during this time. More recently much 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:

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

Kumi Planning and Development Secretariat (PDS)
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 and by drought in 2008.

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:

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

PAG Kabale People of Purpose (POP)
PAG Kabale POP serves people living in the Kigezi region of 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.

POP programs include or have included:

1. HIV/AIDS prevention through education of church and community
2. Support of orphans and vulnerable children
3. Income generating programs for persons infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS
4. Engagement of churches in holistic community outreach 

Church of Uganda

Bunyoro- Kitara Diocese
The Diocesan Planning and Development Office (DPDO) is the development office of this 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). 

Nebbi Diocese
The Nebbi Planning and Development Office (DPDO) is the development office of the Church of Uganda in Nebbi District. The DPDO mobilizes resources so the diocese can meet its development obligations, and shapes the direction of the development plans and activities of the diocese. The DPDO oversees the implementation of community development programs by the Archdeaconry Planning and Development Committees (APDCs). Five APDCs give supervisory support to fifty four (54) community groups for youths, men and women engaged in the program activities. 

Program areas this office and the committees are involved in include: 

• Agriculture
• Goat Multiplication
• Produce Marketing
• Tree Nursery Management
• Saving and Credit Schemes,
• Adult Literacy
• Nutrition, 
• Primary Health Care
• HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention
• Malaria Prevention, 
• Spring (water) Protection
• Institutional capacity building through board development

Madi-West Nile Diocese
The Madi-West Nile Planning and Development Office is the development office of the Church of Uganda in Arua. There is one archdeaconry planning and development committee that has been serving communities in Koboko District since 2004. 

The programs they implement are: 

• Agro forestry
• Agriculture
• Apiculture
• Goat Multiplication
• Savings and Credit Schemes
• HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support to caregivers and OVCs
• Institutional capacity building through board development, committee and community groups,
• Diaconal Training

Diocese of Lango
The Diocese of Lango was created in 1976. The Diocese Operates in five Government administrative districts : Oyam, Apac, Lira, Dokolo and Amolatar. CRWRC has been working with the Diocese of Lango since 2003, carrying out activities through the Diocesan Planning and development Office (DPDO). The Diocesan Planning and Development Office (DPDO) is the development office of the diocese and through partnership with CRWRC works in the two archdeaconries of Aber (since 2005) and Aduku (since 2003). 

Diocese of Lango programming includes:

1. Food security (sustainable agriculture using animal traction, provision of improved seeds, training of communities on modern agricultural practices,  and increase household income)
2. Functional adult literacy
3. Health (environmental sanitation and personal hygiene)
4. HIV and AIDs intervention: Prevention, home based care, support of orphans and vulnerable children and persons living with HIV and AIDS, Socio- economic empowerment and capacity building
5. Spiritual health: youth ministry in the church and Biblical Stewardship trainings for Church leaders)
6. Group savings and credit schemes

Northern Uganda Diocese
The Diocese of Northern Uganda serves communities in the two districts of Gulu and Amuru. These districts were the epicenter of a 20 year vicious insurgency by rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Over 85% of the population in these two districts was displaced but they are now gradually going back home since peace returned to the area in 2006.

The Diocesan Planning and Development Office is the development arm of the Diocese, and in partnership with CRWRC works with two Archdeaconry Planning and Development Committees, Anaka and Ajulu. The planning and Development office has been in operation since 2004. 

The programs being carried out in these Archdeaconries include:

1. Community health (Water and Sanitation, personal hygiene)
2. Food security (introduction of animal traction to expand on land under cultivation, provision of seeds for cultivation training of Farmers and enabling people returning home to produce their own food to reduce dependency on relief),
3. Group savings and credit schemes

Kitgum Diocese
The Diocesan Planning and Development Office (DPDO) is the development office of the Diocese of Kitgum. CRWRC has worked with one Archdeaconry Planning and Development Committee (Lamwo) since 2003. The work was suspended due to insecurity caused by LRA war but the partnership resumed in 2009. 

CRWRC involvement with the Diocese of Kitgum includes:

1. Developing the capacity of the church for holistic ministry
2. Civic Education

Uganda Christian University
The Community Leadership and Development (CLAD) program addresses the problem of leadership in the East African region and Uganda in particular.  Bad leadership at various levels has crippled efforts at changing lives of people. For example by limiting the impact of development interventions, the scourge of corruption is causing debilitating effects.  In Uganda there is noticeable insufficiency of visionary and servant leaders in the whole of society (the church, public sector, charitable sector and private sector). The training develops a caliber of leaders to address this need.  The goal of the program is seen as transformation both for the leader involved and the community that s/he serves. The motto of the program is: “Train a Leader, Impact a Community”. The central organizing paradigm for the program is servant leadership exemplified by Jesus Christ.

THE CRWRC-UGANDA TEAM

Joseph Mutebi (Program Consultant)

Edward Etanu Okiror (Program Consultant)

Jim Zylstra (Country Consultant)