Last Tuesday 17 March, Cardinal Mario Grech met with the bishops of the Ugandan Episcopal Conference during their ad limina visit. The focus of their fraternal dialogue was the implementation of synodality in local communities.

The Church in Uganda has undertaken steps to implement the Final Document of @16Assembly. Among key actions undertaken at a national level: awareness programs through Catholic radio platforms to encourage participation of the faithful and Training of Trainers (ToTs) on synodality in the four ecclesiastical provinces.

Locally, dioceses are organizing workshops for clergy, religious and laity, synodality courses for novices and junior religious, synodality formation into the nine-month program at the Uganda Spiritual Formation Centre.

Despite visible progresses, the bishops of the African country have identified some challenges they intend to face such as  a Program-based approach to synodality (Synodality is yet implemented as activities rather than integrated permanent pastoral and governance structures); Limited inclusion (Women, youth and marginalized groups still have restricted meaningful participation in discernment and decision-making processes); insufficient contextualization (limited translation of the Final Document into local languages affects grassroots ownership).

Now, the Uganda’s Bishops says priority is being given by dioceses to Embedding synodality into diocesan and parish structures; strengthening inclusive participation mechanisms; expanding translation and contextual catechesis efforts; establishing monitoring and evaluation frameworks and deepening formation of clergy and lay leaders in synodal ecclesiology.