History
The Diocese was carved off from Rwenzori Diocese on 26th August, 1984, with the Rt. Rev. Zebedee Kahangwa Masereka as the first Bishop. At that time, there were only 26 parishes and 33 priests. Now there are 38 parishes and 85 priests. The current Bishop is the Rt. Rev. Jackson Nzerebende.
The people's demand for a new diocese was based on their desire to:
- Bring Church services nearer to the communities of Kasese District,
- Develop church liturgy in Lhukonzo (the main language of the people in Kasese), and
- Create opportunity for the Bakonzo people to develop their own identity as one of the tribes of Uganda, as a way of minimizing the effects of the longstanding hostilities between Batooro and Bakonzo since the 1930's.
The Diocese has the highest fertility/population growth rate in Uganda, at 3.2%
95% are peasants. They survive on subsistence farming. The main crops are cassava, bananas, Irish potatoes, beans, g-nuts, fruits and vegetables for food. Cash crops include coffee, cotton and vanilla was introduced over five years ago (in the 1990's).
The Diocese has over 150,000 professing Christians who are now confirmed into the Anglican faith. The District has a population of more than 700,000 people.
The Diocese of South Rwenzori started out with only two Archdeaconries and with only 10 parishes and has steadily grown. In 1984 there were only 5 qualified clergy with diplomas but now we can talk of 15, with 6 clergy at degree and masters level. The diocese has six archdeaconries, 38 parishes and 368 churches; each local congregation is lead by a trained Lay leader from either Kisinga Divinity College, which is owned by South Rwenzori Diocese, or elsewhere in Uganda.
Tourism sites include Queen Elizabeth National Park, full of elephants, buffalo, hippos, lions and more than 600 species of birds. You can see gorillas in Bwindi, in our neighboring Diocese of Kabale. There are also several lakes and rivers in which to swim and boat.
The Diocese is largely rural, with electricity in towns. Transportation is by cars and buses. The climate is usually between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit the year around. There are lots of fresh fruits, fish, bananas, cereals, potatoes, beans, assorted greens, meats and breads to eat while visiting our country.
Areas of Need
- Primary and secondary schools
- Microfinance for savings and loans
- Radio ministry
- Prison ministry
- Communications, filming, newsletter design and writing
- Design of Christmas cards
- Policy formation
- Agriculture
- Bookshop business management
- Electronics technology and engineering
- Builders (house construction)
- Counselors in areas of conflict resolution
- Statisticians to train information management and record keeping
- Music
- Building shallow water wells
- Church flower arrangement
- Church decoration