Overcoming setbacks to launch
the Dhopadhola New Testament

The Most Rev James Odongo, the Archbishop of Tororo, has the honour of selling the first copy of the Dhopadola New Testament. Photo: BS Uganda/ Ezra S Ndagije (UGA03DJ-1.JPG)

KAMPALA, Uganda — Translation projects often take many years and encounter many obstacles, but few prove as challenging as the Dhopadhola New Testament. Work to translate the New Testament into the language of around 250,000 Jopadhola people in Uganda began as long ago as 1976, but it took until March 2003 to finally launch the finished product.

During the lengthy translation process there were several changes of translation and other personnel, and progress was at times very slow. However, ultimately “God’s Word is always successful,” proclaimed the Most Rev James Odongo, the Archbishop of Tororo Archdiocese, at the launch ceremony in Achilet.

Collaboration

Reflecting the fact that the translation is the outcome of collaboration between the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches, the Archbishop shared guest status at the ceremony with the Rt Rev Nichodemus Okille, Bishop of Bukedi Diocese.

The presence of the two church leaders at the launch was welcomed by Henry Kalule, General Secretary of the Bible Society of Uganda. Mr Kalule emphasised the Bible Society’s mission of making God’s Word available to people in their own language at affordable prices, and particularly called on the church leaders to provide personnel for the translation of the Old Testament into Dhopadhola.

Members of both churches who attended the launch particularly welcomed the fact that using the complete Dhopadhola New Testament, rather than the previously published Portions, will greatly enhance both church services and private Bible reading. The head of the Jopadhola community, the Tieng Adhola, also gave strong support to the launch of the New Testament, calling for each family to own at least one copy.