UGANDA: Bishop of Kotido Appeals to Destitute Karamoja Youth in Kampala to Return Home
Rt Rev Dominic Eibu (MCCJ) Bishop Elect of Kotido diocese
Fr. Isaac Ojok
The Bishop of Uganda’s Kotido Diocese Rt. Rev Dominic Eibu (MCCJ) has implored his flock who are living outside to return home and work for development and transformation of the Diocese.
On the occasion of his pastoral visit in Kampala Archdiocese where he met some of his flock the bishop appealed particularly to the youth from Kotido Diocese to return home and focus mainly on how they can work to transform their lives and communities.
He mentioned particularly the young people who leave their homes in Karamoja and move to Kampala, the capital city of Uganda and start begging along the streets thinking that it is the best way to live.
In an interview with AMECEA Online correspondent, Bishop Eibu expressed concern that it is timely for them return and focus on gaining vocational skills that can help them to transform their lives of their people.
During his pastoral visit, the bishop mentioned that he administered the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation to his flock who are living in Kampala where he shared that it is a moment that they use that opportunity to restore their relationship with God.
Despite the challenges being faced away from home, Bishop Eibu encouraged them to remain determined, be strong and firm in the faith that they have embraced.
He further informed AMECEA Online that he has advised his flock especially those who have gained some vocational skills that when they come back home, they should remain generous and share with those whom they left at home.
According to Rt. Rev. Dominic Eibu, the idea is that young people from his diocese who left their homes and went to Kampala with the view of seeking better life should return and go back to school for those who can, in a move to shape their future.
“It is sad to see young people from Karamoja roaming around Kampala without even attending schools, so my idea is to invite them to come back home,” said Bishop Dominic Eibu.
Apart from begging, the bishop noted that the young people from Karamoja are living life that is depriving them rights to education, health care, parental care and other better social services needed for human growth, the reason why he as a shepherd is inviting them to come back home so as to live in a dignified manner.
Similarly, several Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), human right activists have decried poor state of life the young people from Karamoja live and how they are being exploited in worst forms of child labor in Kampala by some people only to fulfil their interests.
In their November 2022 Annual report, Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) reported that Karamoja has the highest number of children engaged in child labor at 55.6%.
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