ASSOCIATION OF RELIGIOUS IN UGANDA (ARU)
The Association of Religious in Uganda, (ARU) traces its foundation back to 1968, when major Superiors of Religious Institutes of women formed a unified body. The Holy See approved it in 1972. Around the same time that ARU was founded, the men Religious also founded their unified body of the Conference of Men Superiors of Religious Institutes in Uganda (COMSRIU).
These unified bodies were started as a response to a directive by Pope Paul VI that Religious Institutes worldwide should form a forum through which they would address issues of common interest to their consecrated life. This requirement was born out of the decisions that had been made in the Vatican Council II.
In 1995, the two bodies of women and men Religious saw it necessary to form one Association and got the approval of the Holy See. The merger came to be known as the Association of the Major Superiors of Religious Institutes in Uganda, (AMSRIU). The purpose of the union was to form an integrated body with a common vision and voice of all the Religious women and men in the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ in Uganda Society.
In 2004 the title of the single body of Major Superiors became the “Assembly” instead of the “Association” so that “ARU would refer to all the Religious women and men in Uganda, irrespective of whether they are Superiors or not. Hence, when we talk of ARU, we refer to all the Religious in Uganda and by AMSRIU, we mean the Major Superiors only. It is the members of AMSRIU who decide on the best steps to take in addressing issues affecting members in the Institutes they lead. Such decisions do not in anyway, override the autonomous nature of each Religious Institute.
As of today there are 100 registered Religious Institutes (68 of women and 32 of men) in Uganda with a membership of approximately 6,000 Religious men and women across the 19 Catholic dioceses in Uganda. As an Association for consecrated men and women working in Uganda, ARU/MASRIU’s life is inspired by a vision, mission and a motto.
VISION:
Being a prophetic body of men and women Religious inspired by Gospel values for our own transformation and of society
OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION
- To enable superiors of Religious Institutes to address issues of common concern from a common platform.
- To help the members fulfil their mission within the Church by providing formation and capacity building enhancement.
- To foster collaboration and cooperation among member institutes and with the ecclesial and civil authorities.
- To assist each institute to attain its unique Charism.
MISSION
To collaborate, support and empower each Institute to live its unique charism within the mission of the Church today.
MOTTO
“No Longer Strangers but Friends” (Jn. 15:15).
ARU conducts courses for formation and capacity building at two centres. At the Association’s headquarters different courses of varying duration are offered – from one week certificate courses to two years diploma courses. And at the Uganda Spiritual Formation Centre in Namugongo, two programmes are conducted, each of nine months: Formation Course for future formators and Spiritual Renewal.
Contacts
Physical Address: Next to the USA Embassy in Nsambya
Telephone: +256 414 510034;
Email: aru@amsriu.org
Website: www.aruamsriu.org