The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Tororo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | In a historic bid to confront domestic violence, substance abuse, and financial instability within households, the Catholic Men’s Apostolate (CMA) of the Archdiocese of Tororo has officially adopted a radical five-point plan aimed at transforming the modern family structure.
Delegates from the Archdiocese of Tororo adopted the series of resolutions at a four-day men’s conference at St Wilbrod Nagongera Parish to combat domestic violence, substance abuse, and succession issues.
To protect vulnerable widows and orphans from being left landless by bitter court battles, the conference addressed the critical absence of active fatherhood and succession planning.
The initiative mandates, among many other recommendations, annual prostate cancer screenings for men over 40, legal will-writing to protect widows and orphans, and the establishment of parish-level savings groups.
“We are alarmed by the high rate of alcoholism and abuse of local waragi, opium, marijuana, among men and youth, which has led to poverty and domestic violence. We therefore resolve to sensitize our sons and youth in our parishes on the dangers of drugs and substance abuse,” stated one of the resolutions, signed by Head of Laity John Bosco Odoi and the CMA Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Joseph Martin Kibeti.
Head of Laity Archdiocese of Tororo
The declaration followed an intensive four-day Archdiocesan Catholic Men’s Conference and Retreat held at St. Wilbrod, Nagongera Parish from August 25 to 28, 2026.
Domestic violence
The conference acknowledged with “pain” that many Catholic homes are fractured by anger, physical abuse, and child neglect. The delegates from all across the diocese declared an absolute rejection of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
The resolution explicitly states that “a true Catholic man never beats his wife or children” and agreed that every parish CMA branch will establish a specialized three-man mediation team to intervene in family conflicts and offer guidance before marriages collapse. “Families are also urged to select spiritual guardians, preferably priests, to anchor their households.”
Substance Abuse and Alcoholism
Alarmed by the soaring rates of alcoholism and the abuse of local waragi, opium, and marijuana, the conference challenged men to lead by example. Leaders were urged to practiced strict moderation or total abstinence from alcohol. Parishes will roll out sensitization programs for local youth and set up prayer, counselling, and rehabilitation referral networks for those battling addiction.
Prostate Cancer Screening
To combat the silent wave of men dying from prostate enlargement and cancer due to fear of stigma, the CMA has recommended that every Catholic man aged 40 years and above in the archdiocese be required to take a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test at least once a year.
Deanery executives were urged to organize specialized health camps with Catholic medical facilities. The CMA called on the Ugandan government to make PSA screening readily available in all Health Centre IV facilities and public hospitals.
Compulsory Will-Writing
To protect vulnerable widows and orphans from being left landless by bitter court battles, the conference addressed the critical absence of active fatherhood and succession planning.
“Every Catholic man in Tororo is mandated to write a valid will in strict alignment with the Succession Act (Amended 2022),” the conference resolved. They recommended that the will must explicitly list all biological children and legally safeguard the family’s residential home. Parishes will host dedicated will-writing workshops over the next 12 months.”
Financial Discipline and Cathedral Construction
Targeting poor savings habits and wasteful spending, the CMA urged every parish to form or strengthen a transparent Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) or SACCO. “Men are strictly barred from selling ancestral land for alcohol or immediate consumption,” the conference stated.
In a massive mobilization drive, the men pledged to aggressively finance the construction of the New Uganda Martyrs Cathedral, Tororo. Officials said contributions are being funneled directly to the Archdiocese of Tororo Cathedral Construction Fund via Centenary Bank (Tororo Branch, A/C 3100111302) and MoMo Pay (Merchant Code: 61832441).
The conference concluded by promising that, “We commit ourselves to live by these resolutions and to be the light of the Church. We shall disseminate and implement these resolutions in our Small Christian Communities, Parishes and Deaneries.”
