Revd Christopher Ogilvie Thompson, Assistant Priest of Bentley, Binsted and Froyle Benefice and representative of Alton at Deanery Synod, along with Bishop David, recently visited Moroto, Uganda, for the consecration of Bishop Michael Chorey, the new Bishop of Karamoja. Revd Christopher shared the experience below…
It was a great privilege to be invited to the consecration of the Venerable Reverend Michael Chorey as Bishop of Karamoja. Our deanery of Alton has a long-standing relationship and partnership with the Diocese of Karamoja. With Bishop James Abura retiring, we were delighted to learn that a new Bishop had been selected and was to be consecrated. Bishop David Williams and I accepted the invitation to be there on Sunday the 25 August 2024 in Moroto, Karamoja.”
On Saturday we travelled the 9 hours from Kampala to Karamoja by car and stayed in the comfortable Mount Moroto Hotel, enjouying dinner with Bishop Simon Aisu, Bishop Joseph, the bishop elect Michael Chorey and the Archbishop Samuel Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu (called Stephen Kaziimba) [see photo below]. This was a good occasion to meet the Bishop Elect and his wife Rev Canon Jane Chorey.”
Rev. Ven. Chorey was born on 10 April 1970 in Dingdinga village, the present day Katabok Sub county in Amudat District. He holds a Master of Arts in Theology and Development and a Bachelor of Divinity from Uganda Christian University. He is currently in the completion stages of his Doctor of Philosophy in Theology and Development at Uganda Christian University. He began his Church Ministry as a Lay Reader from 1995-2000. He was ordained Deacon on 13 July 2003 and priested on December 18, 2005. He then served as the Parish Priest for Christ Church Amudat Parish before becoming the Archdeacon of Pokot Archdeaconry from 2012. Together with his wife, he has planted 24 churches in the archdeaconry.
The consecration was held at Moroto Boma Ground and attracted hundreds of Christians from the region and beyond. The service was led by the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Revd Stephen Kazimba Mugalu, who called for unity and peace in the region. He urged the congregation to support their new bishop in his mission to nurture the spiritual growth of the diocese.
Prominent leaders also attended the ceremony, including Vice President Jessica Alupo, who represented President Kaguta Museveni. She conveyed the President’s congratulations and expressed his support for Bishop Chorey as he took on his new spiritual leadership role. The President also pledged to work closely with the new bishop to eradicate poverty in Karamoja at the grassroots level and to promote economic development, saying “The government is ready to collaborate with the church in fostering peace, unity, and prosperity in Karamoja,”.It was good to meet Bishop of North West Australia, the right Reverend Darrell Parker. North West Australia are also in partnership with Karamoja Diocese. We met Darrell and his wife, Elizabeth, at the end of their week long exploration of Karamoja. They are planning a return visit to run a clergy and lay-reader conference aimed at improving preaching skills.
In his first address as bishop, Bishop Chorey expressed his gratitude and commitment to serving the people of Karamoja. He emphasized the need for continued faith, hope, and collaboration to achieve both spiritual and social development in the region. “I am deeply humbled by this honour and am committed to leading this diocese towards greater unity and spiritual growth,” he said.
Bishop Michael Chorey takes over the mantle of leadership from Bishop Joseph Abura, who has served as Bishop of Karamoja Diocese since 2006.
We were called to pray that the new Bishop will usher in a period of peace to this troubled region, which has been marred by endless feuds between local tribes and cattle rustling between the Pokot and the Karamajong. Let us pray that he will have the wisdom and sensitivity to lead his team and that he can learn the Karamajong language quickly.
After the service Bishop David Williams and I were able to visit the Diocesan Training Centre (DTC) in Lotome, about 45 mins away. It was a surprise to see the whole compound planted with crops – a new initiative from the new principal, the Revd Lonya Simon Petermoe, which allows all the lay readers to feed themselves by farming once they are sent out to parishes.
A few years ago, Alton deanery sponsored the repair of the classroom and dormitory the buildings, which look well used and were tidy. However, all the other building are now in a bad state of repair and the new house for the principal is only at the foundation level and waits further funding before they can build with all the bricks. Their solar power has also failed for want of a new battery. It is amazing how many students graduate as lay readers and even go on to be trained as priests give these spartan conditions!
We also visited the “compassion” centre next to the DTC which currently serves 300 children, offering meals and encouraging school attendance and offering some spiritual input.
Back in Kampala it was a delight to meet Rachael who works with the Message Trust in the high-density areas of Kampala, and Calvin her husband who is a photographer. We also met with the Rev Raymond Bukenya Lorot. Raymond and Rachael are shortly to travel to the Lausanne Congress in Seoul.
Bishop of North Karamoja, the Right Revd Simon Aisu, is planning to come to Alton Deanery in the first week of July 2025, so it was good to be part of this visit and renew our friendship!
