Location: St Paul’s Church Kisoko is located seven (7) miles from Tororo town (approximately 150 miles to the East of Uganda’s Capital City of Kampala) at Kisoko village, Koyi Zone, Kisoko Sub County in West Budama County, Tororo District. It is just 1 mile off Nagongera road, to the North of West Budama county headquarters. This church was built on a gentle hill rise and is at the centre of three schools, namely: Kisoko Boys’ Primary school, Kisoko Girls Primary School and Kisoko High School (formally Kisoko Junior and later Kisoko Boarding Primary School) were nurtured and owe their excellence from the presence of this church in their midst.
Historical Background
St. Paul’s Church Kisoko is Church
of Uganda (Anglican) founded. Long before the present church structure was built,
Christians used to worship in a grass –thatched church a few meters away from
this site. Prior to the year 1928 i.e before Reverend Eriya Muchake was posted
as resident Pastor to St Paul’s Church, the faithful used to walk to present
day Busia (a distance of about 25 miles) to receive baptism and other sacraments.
The building of this church was therefore a great relief to Christians in the
locality.
Physical Structure
The foundation stone for the
present church was laid by W. C Adams ESQ then Provincial Commissioner, on 24th
September 1930. The construction of this church took about four (4) years to
complete. It was completed and sanctified as St Paul’s Church in 1934. The
sitting capacity is between 400 to 500 worshipers.
The main source of funds for
building the church were through levy of “church fees” on pupils in various
schools located in the then Upper Nile Diocese; portions of church collections;
and contributions made by individuals, organizations, and dioceses.
At the time of commissioning St
Paul’s Church in 1934 it achieved a status of a full parish covering the then Sub
Parishes of Budama, Bunyole and Samia (these entities covered wider
geographical areas than today). In 1936, a British Missionary, Reverend Canon
Rampley, was posted to St. Paul’s Church and it achieved a second elevation to
an Archdeaconry status and Seat of the parish. In May 1935, the first
confirmation of Christians took place in this church.
Impact of the church
on the community
In early 1930s, the satellite
schools of Kisoko began to become prominent. With this church as a focal point,
Kisoko schools became centers of excellence in education and Christian doctrine
not only to the surrounding population but also to people from other parts of
the country and even beyond our borders like Kenya. For a long time, it was
only these Kisoko schools that offered opportunity for education levels beyond
primary four. It is therefore not a coincidence that many elites from the then
district of Bukedi, not only studied at Kisoko but received baptism and
confirmation at this church. Needless to stress, many former pupils/students of
these schools cherish emotional attachment to this church. This church offered
and continues to offer moral, socio-economic and political foundations to many
individuals. It remains an icon of pride for the people of West Budama County,
the district and beyond.
St. Paul’s Church Kisoko to date
serves as the Archdeaconry seat of West Budama Archdeaconry. It exerts great
influence on the lives of the Christians from its sixteen (16) parishes. In the
nineteen eighties, the college to train Lay readers was revived under its jurisdiction.
Specifically, this church influences
the people of West Budama County and the wider Christian community in the following
ways:
§
Centre for Christian values for young men &
women and the mature Christians alike imparted through regular fellowships and
teachings
§
Foundation and uniting factor for the three
satellite schools.
§
Headquarters of the West Budama Archdeaconry.
§
Used to serve as a Centre for bible study.
§
Training centre for lay readers – not functional
currently.
§
A bible based technical training (carpentry
& metal fabrication) institute – buildings were however not completed.
Potential
impact
i)
Church planting as a bible study centre – targeting
especially the youth
ii)
Church planting through training of Lay Missioners
(un-ordained pastors)
iii)
Vocational bible based technical training institute –
there is sufficient land belonging to the church for such establishment
iv)
Missionary training centre
