Christians across Bushenyi Deanery raise UGX 388 million as Church leaders champion education, health and self-reliance
By Mukama Phillip Kahigiriza
BUSHENYI, Uganda, July 12 – There was something deeply moving about the scene at Kitabi Parish on Sunday, as Christians from across Bushenyi Deanery came together, not just in prayer, but in purpose. By the end of the day, their generosity had added up to an extraordinary UGX 388 million, raised in support of the Archdiocese of Mbarara Development Foundation (AMDEF).
The final tally, UGX 347 million in cash and a further UGX 41 million in pledges, capped off a colourful fundraising drive presided over by the Archbishop of Mbarara Archdiocese, His Grace Lambert Bainomugisha. Celebrating Holy Mass for the occasion, the Archbishop called on the faithful to embrace stewardship and work together in building a Church that can stand on its own feet, rather than lean indefinitely on outside support.
The mood throughout the day was one of quiet pride. Parishioners arrived from every corner of the deanery, some carrying cash contributions wrapped carefully in cloth, others bearing pledge cards representing commitments they intend to honour in the weeks ahead. For a community not accustomed to headlines, Sunday’s gathering was a rare and welcome one, a reminder of what collective effort can achieve when a shared cause brings people together.
AMDEF was established to give the Archdiocese a structured, sustainable way of mobilising resources for its pastoral, social and economic mission. Rather than depending on the unpredictable rhythms of donor funding, the foundation was designed as a long-term vehicle through which the Church could generate and manage its own resources. It rests on three pillars: education, health, and income generation with infrastructure.
Under education, AMDEF supports Catholic-founded schools, scholarships and school infrastructure, work that Church leaders say is central to giving young people in the region a genuine start in life. In health, the foundation works to strengthen the hospitals and health centres run by the Archdiocese, widening access to quality care for Catholics and the broader community alike, regardless of faith or background. The third pillar channels investment into income-generating projects, from farms to housing, designed to help parishes and the Archdiocese fund themselves over time rather than rely on periodic appeals.
At its heart, AMDEF exists to reduce reliance on external donors, empower local communities, promote self-reliance among parishes, and strengthen the Church’s ability to serve everyone who turns to it, whether for education, healthcare or simple pastoral support.
In his homily, Archbishop Bainomugisha reminded the congregation that AMDEF’s success rests on unity and generosity, values he described as inseparable from genuine Christian stewardship. “We are called to be stewards. The projects we undertake through AMDEF are not for the Church alone, but for the entire community. Let us give so that we can build together,” he said, drawing warm applause from the gathered faithful.
The event’s guest of honour, Water and Environment Minister General Kahinda Otafiire, contributed UGX 12 million in cash and used his address to appeal for peace and social cohesion, themes he linked directly to the region’s development prospects. “We should remain calm and peaceful in our day-to-day lives and protect the good things we have earned. Without peace, there can be no development,” Otafiire told the congregation, urging residents to guard the stability that has allowed initiatives like AMDEF to flourish.
The fundraiser drew a wide circle of dignitaries, reflecting the scale of local investment in the cause. Among those present were the Managing Director of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, who also chairs the Laity in Mbarara Archdiocese; Bushenyi CEC Women Representative Adrine Cohen Kyampene; Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality MP Al-Hajj Iddi Basajabalaba; and Bushenyi District Woman MP Annet Katusiime Mugisha. Also in attendance were Bushenyi District Chairperson Twebaze Prosper, Letshego CEO Giles, and Nkozi Hospital Executive Director Dr Criscent Tumuhaise, each of whom lent their support to a day that organisers described as one of the deanery’s most successful fundraising efforts in recent memory.
Christians travelled from all five parishes that make up Bushenyi Deanery, St Kaggwa, Kyamuhunga, Bitooma, Kitabi and Buhimba, to take part in the day’s celebrations, filling Kitabi Parish well beyond its usual Sunday capacity.
Church leaders closed the event by thanking every contributor, from those who gave modestly to those who gave generously, and reaffirmed AMDEF’s commitment to transparency and accountability in how the funds will be used. The resources raised, they said, will go directly toward advancing the foundation’s work in education, health and sustainable development, for the benefit of the faithful and the wider community alike. Organisers indicated that similar fundraising drives are expected in other deaneries across the Archdiocese in the coming months, as AMDEF works to expand its reach.
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