Repositories of Church Archives in, and How Western Support can Empower Church of Uganda to Write and Own its History

Frederick Mukungu

University Librarian, UgandaChristianUniversity

Abstract

The Church of Uganda is beginning to pay attention to the records left behind by those who have been managing its affairs since its inauguration in1877. An inventory of archives repository at Diocesan headquarters, archdeaconry and parish churches is given. However some gaps have been noted arising out of situations where meetings were held but the communication was oral, leaving no record behind of what transpired. In other cases decisions were made but there are no records of who did what, why and how decisions were taken. Even where some records were made, the preservation and organization of others has not been good. Some areas have been affected by civil wars, causing records to be abandoned in churches and get destroyed.

There is now an acknowledgement that some church records are very important and need to be preserved for administrative, security, historical, academic, research and information purposes. All church transactions should have records made, preserved, organized, and made accessible. The preservation of these records requires resources, equipment, expertise, training of record creators and users, and space for storage and use. A structural framework is proposed within which these can be organized from the Parish level through the Archdeaconries, Dioceses, up to the Provincial Secretariat. Cooperative ventures the world over have been recognized for enabling accomplishment of tasks which may be difficult for individual organizations. These and other related issues are discussed and areas of need brought out for possible Western support to empower the Church of Uganda to write and own its history.

Introduction

The Anglican Church is the oldest Church in Uganda, established in 1887 by The Society of Missions to Africa and the East (Murray, 1985, 34)which later became the Church Missionary Society (CMS) from England (Taylor, 1858:36). The work of the church started from the Central Southern Kingdom of Buganda. A British explorer, Henry Morton Stanley arrive in Buganda in 1875 and persuaded Kabaka (king) Mutesa of Buganda to renounce Mohammedanism (Richardson, 1968:18). The king later asked Stanley to get him missionaries to come and visit his kingdom (Ingram, 1958:34). The Rev. C. T. Wilson and Lt. Shergold Smith reached Uganda in June 1977 (Tuma, 1978:17) and started work. The missionaries worked with the early converts to spread the Gospel to most of what is now called Uganda and beyond. Two other missionary groups – the Africa Inland Mission 1n 1918 (Richardson, 1976:x) and Bible Churchmen’s Missionary Society in 1929 ((Hooton, 1947:69-60) later joined hands and started work in the North Western region of Madi-West Nile, and North Eastern area of Kalamoja, respectively. The work of the three groups grew into various centers of operation, beginning with establishment of parishes, archdeacnries and later the Diocese of Uganda in 1897 with the Rt. Rev. Alfred Robert Tucker from Durham in England as its first Bishop. This Diocese covered present day Uganda, Western Kenya, Southern Sudan, South Western Congo and Ruanda-Urundi.

In 1926, the Diocese of Upper Nile was created from the Diocese of Uganda. The Diocese of Uganda was further subdivided into Namirembe, Ankole-Kigezi, Rwenzori and West Buganda Dioceses in 1960. Upper Nile Diocese was divided into Mbale, Nothern Uganda and Soroti Dioces in 1961, after which the province of the Church of Uganda, Ruanda, Urundi, and Boga-Zaire was inaugurated in the same year (Churchman’s pocket book and diary, 1994).After sometime, Eastern Congo (Zaire) and Rwanda and Burundi became independent Provinces. Today there are 32 dioceses and about 200 archdeaconries and 2000 parishes (Appendix 1).

Alongside preaching the gospel, the church has established health centres, educational institutions, and counseling services.

Archives in the COU

Many records have been left behind by those who have been involved in the church’s affairs since its inauguration in 1877 some of which are of long lasting value and have been kept as archives. Repositories of these archives are found at the various centers of operation within the Church of Uganda in Uganda, and outside the country at the headquarters of the Missionary Societies which founded the church.

A Church of Uganda Commission on Archives was set in March 1966 and asked to investigate what archives existed, where they were located and their state of preservation, and advise the provincial assembly on what steps to take to preserve the archives. The Commission surveyed 61 parishes, dating from before 1900 to 1960’s, about a quarter of what existed then in the Province of the COU. It was found out that many of the records had deteriorated as a result of old age, constant handling, inadequate storage facilities, damp and insects. Several clergy expressed desire for help and advice in keeping them. Some of the recommendations included filling duplicate books of baptism, confirmation and marriage registers so that when they are full, a copy is sent to the Diocesan headquarters; parishes were asked to buy tin storage boxes instead of wooden boxes and sprinkle then with insecticides; records should be kept under lock and not be passed to private individuals; parishes were to be asked to submit annual statistical reports of returns; and church schools and other institutions were to be contacted for what they possessed and take steps to ensure their safety.

Mukungu (1995) did a research on the Anglican Church of Uganda archives documents in Britain. He surveyed the archives at CMS headquarters, Waterloo in London and BirminghamUniversity, Africa Inland Mission (Cross Links) at Archway in London, BCMS at Lewisham way in London, Lambeth Palace Library, Public Record Office at Kew in Richmond, and other repositories. Most of the archives found were copies of correspondences between the church in Uganda with the parent missionary societies, records taken home by the earlier missionaries who worked in the church in Uganda, recruitment of missionaries for the church in Uganda.

Today, records worth calling archives should be at least 25 years old for non-personal, and 50 for personal records. A list of the parishes and other centres established before 1983 with records over 25 years is given in Appendix 2.

Records found at Different repositories in the COU

  1. Parishes and archdeaconries. Baptismal registers, confirmation registers, marriage registers, service books, parish council minute books, accounts books, committees for mission, church wardens, land, youth, development, Mothers Union, Christian Women’s Fellowship, and Fathers Union.
  2. Cathedrals. Cathedral Chapter, Register of ordination and priesting, the rest as for parishes and archdeaconries.
  3. Diocesan Headquarters. Records from the offices of the Bishop; Diocesan Secretary; Treasurer; and heads of various departments in the diocese such as Youth, Women, Development, etc as subordinates of the Provincial departments; Synod; Diocesan Council, Mission, Education, and other Boards.
  4. Provincial Secretariat. Records from the offices of the Archbishop; Provincial Secretary; Treasurer; Heads of Provincial departments such as Youth, Women, Mission, Education, etc; Provincial Assembly, and Standing Committee; Provincial Boards and Commissions.

Preservation of archives.

Much as it has been laid out in some of the policies that govern the administration and management of the church and keeping records at various levels and institutions in the Church of Uganda, there have been problems of sometimes not keeping records of transactions, lack of appropriate places and media for keeping recordssafely, damage of records by rodents and insects, overuse,new staff destroying records left behind by their processors, etcetera. The preservation of these records requires resources, equipment, expertise, training of record creators and users, and space for storage and use.

Uganda Christian University, through collaboration with Yale University and Brill formerly IDC is making a headway to organize and preserve archives got from the Provincial Secretariat in 2002. An agreement was renewed in September 2007with the purpose of designing and implementing a continuing program for the preservation and microfilming of the archives of the UgandaChristinaUniversity which also includes COUarchives. This agreement is on-going as long as the parties involved are willing, and it may extend to include material held by other repositories in Uganda. IDC provide the microfilming or scanning equipment, Yale meets the financial aspect, while deals with the organization and management of the archives. Yale has also provided training and experience for the archivist at UCU, Mrs. Christine Byaruhangawhich has a lot in organizing the archives. There are four additional staff in the archives section at UCU – two involved in scanning and two helping Christine in the records. It is so amazing how the old flimsy, falling apart paper has been translated into DVD after scanning, and further made into microfilms. A user now simply puts in DVD in a computer, reads the information, and prints what is needed, without disturbing the original paper. UCU is greatly grateful and indebted to IDC and YaleUniversity for this collaboration.

The administration at UCU has also put in a lot to get the necessary material for preserving the original paper such as lid-boxes, folder files, plastic pins and space. The two young men assisting the archivist in organizing the archives are dedicated to their work, removing the rusting steal pins and replacing them with plastic ones, and carefully handling the fragile paper.

However I visited a number of repositories in the parishes, archdeaconries and Cathedrals, I found many of the archives in a sorry state which needs urgent rescue. Storage facilities and reasonable know-how of preservation is lacking. There is need for a framework within which the archives can be organized at all levels, from the Parish, through the Archdeaconries, Dioceses, up to the Provincial Secretariat. Cooperative ventures the world over have been recognized for enabling accomplishment of tasks which may be difficult for individual organizations and institutions such as the COU. There is therefore a need for Western support to empower the Church of Uganda towrite and own its history. This support may include organizing workshops for trainingall church workers in charge of keeping records; acquiring equipment and material for preserving the archives and accessing them, scanning them, and disseminating them.

References

Church of Uganda Commission on archives (1966)

Churchman’s pocket book and diary (1994). Kampala: Centenary Publishing House

Hooton, W. S. & Wright, J. Stafford (1947). The first twenty five years of the Bible

Churchmen’s Missionary Society (1922-1947). London: The Bible Churchmen’s Missionary Society

Mukungu, Frederick N. (1995). A survey of the Anglican Church of Uganda archives documents in Britain. (MA Dissertation,LoughboroughUniversity)

Murray, Jocelyn (1985). Proclaim the good news: a short history of the Church

Missionary Society.London: Hodder & Stoughton.

Richardson, Kenneth (1968). Garden of miracles: The story of the Africa Inland Mission.

London: Africa Inland Mission.

Taylor, John (1958). The growth of the church in Uganda. London: SCM

Tuma, Tom & Mutibwa, Phares (1977). A century of Christianity in Uganda.Nairobi: Uzima

APPENDIX 1

Parishes surveyed by the Church of Uganda Commission on Archives

  1. established before 1900
  2. Rakai, Koki (West Buganda Diocese)
  3. Kako, Masaka (West Buganda
  4. Masindi (Rwenzori)
  5. FortPortal (Rwenzori)
  6. Ngogwe (Namirembe)
  7. Iganga (Namirembe)
  8. Natete (Namirembe)
  9. Namirembe Cathedral
  10. Mityana
  11. Nakanyonyi
  12. Busiro Jungo
  13. Kikubira
  14. Ndeje
  15. Kajuna
  16. Gayaza
  17. SesseIslands
  18. Bamusuta
  1. 1900-1910
  2. Nabumali (Mbale)
  3. Bbira (anasmirembe)
  4. Kamuli (Namirembe)
  5. Ndeeba (Namirembe)
  6. Kabwohe (Ankole)
  7. Ruharo, Mbarara (Ankole)
  8. Hoima ( Rwenzori)
  9. Budaka (Mbale)
  10. Ngora (Soroti)
  11. Gulu (Norhtern Uganda)
  12. Mbale (Mbale)
  13. Butiiti (Rwenzori)
  14. Bugoma(Rwenzori)
  15. Gomba
  16. Makerere
  17. Mukono
  18. Buruli Damba
  19. Mawokota Jungo
  20. Butambala Bweya
  1. 1911-1920
  1. Namulikya (Namirembe)
  2. Ibanda (Ankole)
  3. Kibuye (Namirembe)
  4. Nsaale (Namirembe)
  5. Nasuuti (Namirembe)
  6. Ikoba
  7. Kabale (Kigezi)
  1. 1921-1930
  1. Bweranyangi (Ankole)
  2. Kinyansano (Kigezi)
  3. Mpeiya Kasaka (West Buganda)
  4. Butiiru (formerly Nakhupa, Mbale)
  5. Kabira, Kabwohe (Ankole)
  6. Kitgum (Northern Uganda)
  7. Boroboro , Lira (Northern Uganda)
  8. Soroti (Soroti)
  1. 1931-1940
  1. Aboke (Northern Uganda)
  2. Mboga (Rwenzori)
  1. 1941-1950
  1. Kazo, Ibanda (Ankole)
  2. Kambuga (Kigezi)
  3. Lira Palwo (Northen Uganda)
  4. Nyakatare, Kinkizi (Kigezi)
  5. Kihanga (Kigezi)
  6. Ndekye (Ankole)
  7. Katente (Namirembe)
  8. Kyabugimbe (Ankole)
  9. Mitooma (Ankole)
  10. Kwapa (Mbale)
  11. Asuret (Soroti)
  1. After 1951
  1. Kashenyi (Ankole)
  2. Terego (Northern Uganda)
  3. Mukongoro (Soroti)
  4. Awelo (Northern Uganda)
  5. Rutooma (Ankole)
  6. Nyabirerema (Ankole)
  7. Busui (Mbale)
  8. Butiru (Mbale)
  9. Kidera (Namirembe)
  10. Lumino (Mbale)
  11. Kakinga Kebisoni (Kigezi)
  12. Masheruka (Ankole)
  13. Kamod (Soroti)
  14. Midiere (Northern Uganda)
  15. Bugangari (Kigezi)
  16. Kitagata (Ankole)
  17. Bigyera (Ankole)
  18. Nyikanoni (Ankole)

APPNDIX 2A

PARISHES IN THE CHURCH OF UGANDA BY 1983 (Source: Churchman’s pocket book and diary, 1984)

1. BUKEDI DIOCESE

Formed in 1972 from Mbale Diocese

Archdeaconries

Budaka

Tororo

St Peter’s Pro Cathedral

Parishes

Agule, Apokor, Apopong, Atiri, Budaka, Budumba, Buhehe, Bunawale, Bulangira, Bulumbi, Bumunji, Busaba, Buseeta, Busia, Busibembe, Busikho, Butaleja, Butebo, Buteng’e, Butesa, Buwembe, Buwesa, Buwemba, Gogonyo, Iki-Iki, Kabuna, Kabwangasi, Kachomo, Kachonga, Kadama, Kagumu, Kaiti, Kakoro, Kalait, Kameruka, Kamonkoli, Kamuge, Kanghalabba, Kang’inima, Kapisa, Kasasira, Kasodo,

Katerema, Kayoro, Kibale, Kibuku, Kidera, Kidoko, Kirika, Kisoko, Kiyeyi, Kubo, Kyawolo, Kwapa, Lumino, Lunyo, Lwamboga, Magola, Majanji, Makina, Masaba, Mugulu, Mulanda, Mundindi, Naboa, Nagongera, Nalugunjo, Namulo, Nyamologo, Nyakoi, Nyamera, Olok, Osukuru, Pajwenda, Pallisa, Paya, Peri Peri, Petta, Rubongi, Soni, Syanyonja, Tirinyi, Wang’hale, Busabi.

2. BUNYORO KITARA DIOCESE

Formed in 1972 from Rwenzori Diocese

Archdeaconries

Hoima

Masindi

Nyaigana

Parishes

Ajengera, Biiso, Buraru, Bulindi, Butema, Bwijanga, Budongo, Bugungu, Diika, Hoima, Ikoba, Kabworo, Kaseeta, Kyabigambire, Kijunjubwa, Kyema, Kakindo, Kasunga, Kinogozi, Karongo, Kiduuma, Kigorobya, Kigaaya, Kiziranfumbi, Kyangwali, Kiryandongo, Kigumba, Kasenene, Kisuuga, Kyabaranzi,

Kikangara, Kisalizi, Kabuubwa, Kakindo, Bugangaizi, Kyabasaija, Kagadi, Kakumiro, Karujubu, Kyakabadiima, Masindi, Munsa, Mabaale, Nyamirima, Nyantonzi, Nyabyeya, Nyaigana, Parajwoki, Ruteete, Wambabya, Walyoba, Waaki.

3. BUSOGA DIOCESE

Formed in 1972 from Namirembe Diocese

Archdeaconries

Iganga

Jinja

Kamuli

Bugenbe Cathedral

Parishes

Bugaya, Bugiri, Bugulumbya, Bulange, Bulyansiime, Buphadengo, Buseesa, Busowa, Buwaaya, Buwongo, Gadumire, Iganga, Ivukula, Kakira, Kaliro, Kaluuba, Kamuli, Kibaale, Kidera, Kigalama, Kiringa, Kiyunga, Kyando, Lubanyi, Lwangosia, Namalemba, Naminage, Namulikya, Namutumba, Nasuuti, Nawaikoke, Nawansega, St Andrew’s Jinja, St James Jinja, Waibuga, Waitambogwe, Wakitaka, Walukuba.

4. EAST ANKOLE DIOCESE

Formed in 1976 after the sub division of Ankole Diocese

Archdeaconries

St. James Cathedral, Mbarara

Ibanda

Kabingo

Kazo

Kinoni

Kyamate

Rutooma

Parishes

All Saints, Bigyera, Biharwe, Birere, Bugamba, Buhanama, Bujaga, Buremba, Burunga, Buyenje, Ibanda, Itojo, Kabingo, Kajaano, Kakinga, Kanoni, Kanywamaizi, Karuyenje, Kashongi, Kashwa, Katebe, Kazo, Kigaragara, Kihanda, Kikagate, Kikatsi, Kinoni (Nyabushozi), Kinoni (Rwampara), Kitwe, Kyakabunga, Kyamate, Kyampangara, Mabona, Mbuga, Migina, Mugarusya, Bwizibwera, Muriisa, Ntungamo, Mwizi, Naama, Kiruhuura, Ngarama, Nkondo, Nombe, Nyabikungu, Nyamuyanja, Kabingo, Omungari, Ruborogota, Kikagate, Ruhaama, Ntungamo, Rukooni, Rushere, Rushozi, Rutooma, Bwizibwera, Rwantsinga, Rwemikoma, Rwenanuura, Rwentanga, Rwoho, Nyakayojo,

5. KAMPALA DIOCESE

Formed in 1972 from Namirembe Diocese

Archdeaconries:

Makerere, Kampala

Kisugu, Kampala

All saints Cathedral, Nakasero

Parishes:

Bukoto, Kamwokya, Kisugu, Kiwulirizi, Luzira prison chaplaincy, Makerere university chaplaincy, Mulago C.OU, Naguru, Nsambya National.Teachers. College Kyambogo, Ntinda, Makerere C.O.U

6. KARAMOJA DIOCESE

Formed in 1976 from soroti Diocese

Archdeaconry:

Karamoja

St. Philip’s Moroto

Parishes:

Amudat, Abim, Amita, Iriri, Kaabong, Karenga, Kiru, Kaicheri, Katido, Kangole, Loyoro, Lotome,

Namalu, Nakapiripirit, Nabiluk.

7. LANGO DIOCESE

Formed in 1976 from Northern Uganda diocese.

Archdeaconries:

Aduku, .

Lira,

Parishes

Abako, Aber, Aboke, Abongomola, Abutoadi Gombolola, Acaba, Aduku, Adwari, Agwata, Akalo, Akokoro, Alito,Aloi, Amach, Amolater, Amugu, Anai, Anyete, Apach,Apala, Aputi, Aromo, Atura, Awelo,Ayara, Bar, Batta, Boroboro, Chawente, Chegere, Dokolo, Ibuje, Iceme, Inomo, Ikwera, Kangai, Kungu, Kwera, Loro, Minakulo, Nambieso, Mamasale, Ngai, Ogur, Okwang, Olilim, Omoro, Onyakedi, Orum, Otwal,

St. Augustine, Lira, Te-ilwa,

8. MADI & WEST NILE DIOCESE

Formed in 1969 by the division of northern Uganda diocese.

Archdeaconries:

Arua, arua

Goli, nebbi

Koboko, koboko

Maracha, arua

Moyo, moyo

Oyibu, okollo.

Parishes

Abanga, Adalafu, Adumi, Ajumani, Akino, Aliba, Aringa, Anyiribu, Arivu, Aroi, Arua,Ayila, Ayivu, Bileafe, Emadi, Erepi, Eruba, Erusi, Goli, Junam, Katrini, Kijomoro,Koyi,Lifori, Logiri, Maracha, Midria, Midyere, Moyo, Muni, Mvara, Mvuranyi, Nebbi, Nyepea, Nyaravur, Nyarilo, Nyio, Obongi, Ocoko, Odravu, Offaka, Offude, Ogoko, Okollo, Oliri, Oluko, Oluvu, Omugo, Opia, Paidha, Pamodho, Palwo, Panyimur,Papoga,Paranga, Parombo, Rhino camp, Rigbo, Rara, Terego, Ukoro, Vurra, Wadelai, Wandi,Yole,

9. MBALE DIOCESE

Created in 1961 by the division of the diocese of the upper Nile

Archdeaconries:

Bubulo, mbale

Buhugu, budadiri

Nabumali, mbale

Sebei, kapchorwa

St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Mbale

Parishes:

Bubentsye, Bubirabi, Bubulo, Bubutu, Bududa, Bufumbo, Bugmotwa, Buginyanya,Bugobero, Bugusege, Bukalasi, Bukhabusi, Bukigayi, Bukonde, Bukwa, Bukyabo, Bulaago, Bulegeni, Bulucheke, Buluganya, Bumasifa, Bumasikye, Bumasobo, Bumbo,

Bumumali, Bumumiasi, Bupoto, Busamaga, Busano, Bukhyika, Busiu, Butandiga, Buteza, Butiru, Buyobo, Chesower, Mafudu, Kabuloloni, Kalawa, Makuyu, Mulatsi,Nabbongo, Nabumali, Nabweya, Nambulu, Namunsi, Ngenge, Sigunga, Sipi, Soloko,Suom, Tomma-Butta,