The Association of Religious (ARU) was founded in 1968 as a body of Major Superiors of Religious women in Uganda as a response to the directive by Pope Paul VI. The main goal was for the Religious to come together to address issues of concern regarding their state of consecrated lives and shared mission in the Church. In 1994 ARU merged with the Conference of Men Superiors of Religious Institutes
in Uganda (COMSRIU) in order to advance joint work as men and women Religious in Uganda. In 1995, the new merger was officially registered in the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Institutes of Apostolic Life in Rome after approval by the Holy Father. Currently ARU refers to the umbrella body of all the Religious in Uganda, while the Assembly of Major Superiors of Religious Institutes in Uganda (AMSRIU) is the legislative arm of ARU.The mission of ARU/AMSRIU is “to collaborate, support and empower each Institute to live its unique charism within the mission of the church today” while its vision is “To be a prophetic body of Men and Women Religious inspired by gospel values for our own transformation and society”.
