John Bosco Akore, the church member and secretary Kotido Elders council said they believe the newly appointed bishop will be able bridge the relationship between Karamojong and the neighboring regions like Teso.
The Catholic community in Kotido District has welcomed the appointment of Reverend Father Dominic Eibu, as the new Bishop of Kotido Diocese with excitement.
Bishop-elect Eibu, a Comboni priest born in Lwala, Kalaki District, in Soroti Catholic Diocese, will replace Bishop Giuseppe Filippi whose retirement has been accepted upon reaching the mandatory age limit of 75 years. He becomes the third bishop of Kotido.
John Bosco Akore, the Secretary of Kotido Elders Council said they believe the newly appointed Bishop will be able to bridge the relationship between Karamojong and the neighbouring regions like Teso.
Akore said they welcome the Bishop but urged him to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor who focused on educating the Karamojong and caring about their well-being.
‘’Our outgoing Bishop did great work and now I’m hoping that the new Bishop is going to follow his footmarks in nurturing his catholic faith’’ Akore said.
According to Akore, they are ready to work with the bishop so long as he has come with the spirit of uniting people, helping the needy, and prioritizing spreading the word of peace among the Karamojong communities that have been engulfed with cattle rustling.
Akore asked the Christians to welcome the Bishop and work together for the betterment of the Kotido people who were diverted by spirits of bloodshed.
Paul Lule, a Christian of Kacheri Catholic Church, observed that the appointment of the bishop who originated from Teso is a great achievement for them because the bishop has an idea about the region.
“I am so happy because I believe the bishop being from Teso does understand some of the words in our native language and culture as well, I know he will shepherd the people well’’ Lule said.
Lule says that the new bishop will open a new chapter in the life of Christians, but urged him to set up prayer sessions for the peace, hunger, and biting poverty in the region so that God can intervene.
Sean Paul Atanya, the LCIII Chairperson for Kotido North Division says the appointment portrays equal treatment in all communities in Uganda. He said communities from the northern part of the country have been taken as marginalized and cannot participate in such positions but now the appointment has built trust in them.
Atanya said he is excited because it is the appointment they have long been waiting to hear, adding that he can’t wait to witness the installation of the new bishop.
The appointed Comboni Father Dominic Eibu, is currently parish priest of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Cairo, Egypt. The special prayers for his appointment will be hosted on Thursday at Kotido Cathedral.
Kotido Diocese was curved out of Moroto Diocese in May 1991. That year Pope John Paul II elected Denis Kiwanuka Lote as its first Bishop. The diocese comprises the Districts of Kotido, Kaabong, Karenga, and Abim in northeastern Uganda.
In June 2007 Bishop Kiwanuka Lote was appointed Archbishop of Tororo creating a vacuum in Kotido which was filled with the appointment of Bishop Filippi as his replacement.URN
