History of Nadiket Seminary

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF ST. MARY’S SEMINARY NADIKET by Mr Oketch Patrick

Rector 1986 – 1992 The Logo

St. Mary’s seminary Nadiket is a local inter Diocesan seminary of the Dioceses of Kotido and Moroto. It is located in the North-eastern region of Uganda (Karamoja region), Moroto District along Moroto-Kitale road approximately 6 Km from Moroto town Rector 1986 to 1992

The name St. Mary’s is derived from our lady, the mother of Jesus. The above name requires seminarians to imitate the Marian virtues if humility, purity and obedience to God’s will.

Nadiket seminary was founded by Rt. Rev. Bishop Sisto Mazzoldi, a Comboni missionary who came to Karamoja in 1964 and was stationed at Kangole as Apostolic Vicar for Karamoja which later became Moroto Diocese and by then it was still under Gulu Diocese.

Moroto Diocese was officially born in 1965 and Bishop Mazzoldi became its first bishop from where he saw the need to open a seminary for training and formation of local clergy as influenced by the spirit of Comboni that is “SAVE AFRICA WITH AFRICANS”, this was after his two years in the service

Nadiket seminary started to function or operate on the 1^st April 1967 with primary six and seven classes of about 48 students.

Its first Rector was Fr. Alberto Guidi Apalopus who served between 1967 and 1977 when he was transferred to Nabilatuk, Fr. Archangelo Petri Longechel succeeded him and served for six years. Fr. Nereo Grandi took over from him between 1982 and 1986.

The time of Fr. Lawrence Carraro was 1987-1992. Fr Archangelo Petri then took over for a period of one year before he was succeeded by Fr. Guido Oliana who served from 1994-1999. Under his(Fr Carraro) administration, the number of students steadily increased from an average of 50-80 that enabled him to register the school under the government policy (regulations). By this time, students involved themselves in construction work and academics under the guidance of Bishop and the first fruit of priesthood was (12 priests), coming from almost all parts of the region.

In January 1982, Fr. Grandi Nereo transferred Nadiket P.6 class to Lorengedwat Preparatory Seminary and in 1989, Fr. Lawrence again transferred P.7 to Lorengedwat to add on the already P.5 class

In 1990, Nadiket got in to the current design of 6 classes which is a complete secondary school (A-Level) section. The seminary continued to be run by Comboni missionaries until 1999 when it was handed over to the local clergy Fr. Clement Othim as the first Diocesan Rector who ran the seminary administration from 1999-2005. From 2006-2013, Fr. Simon Peter Lokiru served the position of the Rector and handed over in March 2014 to the current Rector Fr. Alfred Kotol.

The Rector is assisted by Fr. Charles Adei as Vice-Rector and Sr. Carla Gherardi, a Comboni sister who is in charge of spiritual direction. Besides, there are nine lay staff members involved in the running of the seminary and one major seminarian. We have a seminary Advisory Board which advices on the general running and administration of the seminary.