Social Communications

Vision: “An informed and pastorally oriented Catholic Community of the Archdiocese of Gulu”.

Goal: To strengthen Social Communications Department and networking with all the stakeholders within the Archdiocese of Gulu, GEPCO/GANAL and the whole Nation for effective service delivery.

Highlights or Major Activities/Events

• Full participation in the annual rotational Communications week in various the dioceses of Uganda.
• Participated in the coverage of various Archdiocesan events: ordination of Deacons, Profession of the Religious Sisters, Provincial Peace Week etc.
• Organized and fully covered Pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Blessed Martyrs Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa at Wi-polo annually on 20th October. SC provided Public Address System to cover the event. Live broadcast was done by Radio Maria Uganda Gulu Substation. • Contributed articles to the National Catholic Online Magazine: The New Contact
• Continued to coordinate various media institutions within the Archdiocese of Gulu e.g. Bosco Uganda, Radio Maria, Radio Pacis Gulu etc.
• Fully participated in GEPCO (Gulu Ecclesiastical Province Communications Organization – GANAL) Meetings and other activities within the Province
• Organized and fully participated in the quarterly Archdiocesan Communications Commission Meetings
• Fully involved in the preparation and celebration of the third Synod of the Archdiocese with the theme: The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and in the Archdiocese of Gulu.

Proper networking brings success and should be encouraged by all stakeholders at all levels.

1. To continue strengthening the ongoing activities like networking with the National Office, the other Dioceses and Media Houses through sharing information and other relevant issues.
2. Through Radio programs, Parish Priests’ Office and Catechists; sensitize the Christians on their roles and responsibilities to use, own and sustain the Social Communications Office and all the means of Social Communications.
3. Identify donors both locally and internationally to support our projects e.g. acquire office equipment like Computers, Still Camera, Video Camera and others.
4. Continue to improve the standard and quality of activities that the office is already carrying out.
5. To identify interested Priests, Religious and Lay persons and recommend them to the Archdiocese and the National office for Scholarship to train in the various fields of Social Communications (Mass Media) at all levels.
6. Publicize and encourage the faithful to embrace and put into practise the Acts of the third Synod of the Archdiocese of Gulu on the Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church

Media institutions with whom there is regular collaboration within the Archdiocese:

• Radio Maria Uganda – Gulu. Radio Maria Uganda (RMU) is a member of the World Family of Radio Maria (WFRM) based in Italy.
• Radio Pacis – Arua – Gulu. This was established in Arua Diocese but now has a sub-station in the Archdiocese of Gulu.
• Radio-wa – Lira
• Bosco-Uganda – Gulu Archdiocese
• PACTA (Program for Prevention, Awareness, Counselling & Treatment of Alcoholism) Media Centre.

Ag. Director: Fr. David Okello Opiro

With two Transmitters: 105.7 and 91.2, Gulu Substation has one of the largest network coverage geographically and listenership wise: Acholi Sub-region, Lango Sub-region (91.2), the Greater North, Part of Karamoja (Kabong), South Sudan and part of Eastern DRC.
There are very many willing Volunteer Presenters who serve without any facilitation.
Despite challenges of meeting the high cost of power (electricity), of late, the Radio has been regular on air unlike in the past.
Radio Maria (RM) operates on three key areas:

1) Evangelization
2) Volunteerism and
3) Divine Providence

Now in line with the Policy of World Family of Radio Maria (WFRM) it embarking on May 2017 MARIATHON, special fund-raising drive with focus on the sustainability of Radio Maria Substation.
The BIG Promotion plan for Radio Maria Uganda (RMU) Gulu targets the acquisition AIR CONDITION for the substation.
RMU is now embarking on implementation of the New Policy of RMU: Recruitment of major Staff centrally by the National Board of Directors.
All the Clergy, Religious Men and Women, Laity are informed of any new changes that has taken place in the Archdiocese of Gulu for example, new appointments; changes at the national level and in the Universal Church. The Archbishop has taken upon himself to avail to them copies of Encyclical letters and Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortations released from time to time by the Holy see.