By Eumu Emmanuel
In Kaberamaido District, the District Education Officer (DEO) has called on lay readers to play an active role in teaching children good morals. The initiative is part of an ongoing training program aimed at enhancing the capacity of church-based educators and leaders.
Mr. Honemas Ekwamu, a local leader, noted that the Soroti Diocese had expanded its outreach from the Nogra Diocese. He emphasized that when the people of God are united in purpose, they can achieve great things. Ekwamu explained that the training, which takes place on Fridays and Saturdays, is expected to last for three years. This extended duration is necessary as many of the participants are unable to travel to Soroti for training due to logistical and financial constraints. The training is now being conducted locally in Kaberamaido to improve the skills of the lay readers in their daily religious duties.
Kaberamaido Archdiocese currently has 35 lay readers, with 31 male and 4 female participants, who serve across the district. The Archdiocese covers a wide area, with the lay readers responsible for preaching, teaching, and leading prayers in their respective communities.
Richard Elyebu, the Member of Parliament candidate for Kaberamaido County, also addressed the gathering. Elyebu expressed his support for the training programs, urging lay readers to continue their work and support his campaign for the 2026 elections. As a professional teacher, Elyebu highlighted the importance of education and promised to advocate for improvements in Kaberamaido County, particularly in education and health. He emphasized the need to reduce the student-to-teacher ratio and address staffing shortages in both sectors.
Elyebu also expressed gratitude for the government’s recent allocation of 1 billion Ugandan Shillings for roadworks in the district, which have improved the infrastructure and connectivity. He stressed that strengthening the sectors of health, education, and infrastructure would be a key priority in his tenure if elected.
He thanked the Soroti Diocese and the Archdiocese of Kaberamaido for bringing the training sessions closer to the people, making it more accessible for local lay readers.
One of the trained lay readers, Moses Osipa, thanked the Archdiocese of Kaberamaido and the Diocese of Soroti for organizing the training. He expressed confidence that it would greatly improve their teaching and sermon delivery, benefiting their communities.
Rev. Charles Onying also voiced his support for Elyebu’s candidacy, pledging to back him in the upcoming National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries in the hope that he would continue advocating for the well-being of Kaberamaido’s residents.
The training program for lay readers is seen as a positive step toward strengthening the role of the church in education and moral guidance, with the goal of nurturing a generation of well-educated and morally upright citizens.