Financial Request to Renovate Caritas Arua Diocese Offices

For nearly four decades, Caritas Arua Diocese has provided life-changing humanitarian and development services to both host and refugee communities in the West Nile sub-region of Uganda. The organization plays a vital role in promoting food security and livelihoods, environmental protection, financial inclusion, social cohesion, peace building, and social welfare programs targeting vulnerable populations especially women and youth. Despite this important mandate, the administrative infrastructure of Caritas Arua Diocese offices has remained severely inadequate and deteriorated. The existing office block constructed by the Comboni Missionaries in the early 1960s has not undergone major renovation in over 60 years. As a result, the building’s condition has significantly declined due to age, weak foundations, and prolonged lack of maintenance. The walls are cracked, floors uneven, and the roofing iron sheets old and leaking, often causing water damage to documents and equipment during rainy seasons. Window frames and doors are rusted and broken, and the electrical and plumbing systems are outdated and unsafe. The overall architectural design no longer meets the standards of a functional and modern administrative office.

Moreover, the working environment is cramped, poorly lit, and ergonomically unsuitable. The office space accommodates around 15 staff including one priest, Rev. Fr. Kalbert Achora who is the Executive Director and lay personnel most of whom operate in congested makeshift spaces without adequate partitions or ventilation. Office furniture and filing cabinets are obsolete and broken. The lack of proper shelving compromises document security and record management. There are no fire extinguishers and smoke detectors, exposing staff and property to safety risks. The impact on productivity, morale, and service delivery is significant. Research consistently demonstrates that conducive work environments with adequate lighting, air circulation, and ergonomic design enhance staff performance and collaboration. However, Caritas Arua Diocese staff are hindered by poor working conditions, frequent disruptions from maintenance issues, and limited workspace. These constraints reduce operational efficiency, delay donor reporting, and hinder effective coordination across the Diocese of Arua and the West Nile sub-region of Uganda.

Financially, Caritas Arua Diocese operates under severe resource constraints, relying almost entirely on donor support. The institution lacks sustainable income-generating ventures to fund infrastructural maintenance or administrative improvement. Consequently, repairs and renovations have been deferred for years. Thus, urgent renovation of the existing Caritas office block is critical to safeguard the health, safety, and productivity of the staff while upholding the Diocese’s institutional dignity and service reputation.

The total cost estimated for the renovation and furnishing of Caritas Arua Diocese Offices is $80,000. Sincere and heartfelt thanks to one family in Atchison, Kansas that already donated half of the required funds ($40,000) which enabled us to start the work of renovation.

It is therefore within this context that Rev. Fr. Kalbert Achora, the Executive Director of Caritas Arua Diocese seeks support to the tune of $40,000 from God’s loving people and well-wishers to complete the work of renovating and furnishing Caritas Arua Diocese office premises. The proposed intervention will restore structural integrity, modernize workspace design, enhance safety standards, and provide a conducive and functional environment that enables effective delivery of both pastoral and social services across the nine districts served by Caritas Arua Diocese.