SHEEMA
Bishop Callistus Rubaramira of Kabale Diocese has commended the Archdiocese of Mbarara Development Association (AMDA) for spearheading development initiatives aimed at improving the lives of people in the archdiocese. Rubaramira, who represented the Archbishop of Mbarara Archdiocese, Lambert Bainomugisha, made the commendation at the closing ceremony of the three-day Archdiocese of Mbarara Development Association (AMDA) Caravan 2026 at St. Claret Catholic Parish, Nyabwina, in Sheema District.
The caravan, held from September 4 to 6 under the theme “Muzahura” (The Saviour), brought together thousands of residents for medical services, marriage, education, legal services, skills training and other community development activities.
Bishop urges Christians to advise one another
Leading Mass at St. John’s Secondary School, Nyabwina playground, on Sunday, Rubaramira urged Christians to take responsibility for one another and offer honest advice whenever they see a colleague going astray.
He said Christians should not remain silent when a fellow Christian is facing challenges.
“Don’t dodge. To avoid dodging, you need courage and humility. When you see or hear something about your colleague, don’t pretend that you do not mind. It is our duty to advise one another,” Rubaramira said.
He urged Christians to love one another and fulfil God’s will.
“Don’t be quiet or pretend that you do not hear. We are God’s servants, and therefore, we should fulfil God’s will,” he said.
Thousands benefit from medical camp
Thousands of residents benefited from a one-day medical camp organised by AMDA at St. John’s Secondary School.
The camp offered general and paediatric care, eye and dental services, cancer screening, cardiology services and other specialised medical interventions.
Some patients received free medicines, eyeglasses and wheelchairs, while those with serious conditions were referred to hospitals for further treatment and specialised care.
AMDA chairman Chris Gumisiriza said more than 3,000 residents turned up for treatment and received medication during the camp, while many others underwent screening.
He said eye care, dental services and cancer screening were among the most sought-after services.
Gumisiriza said about 500 people were identified with eye-related problems, 40 underwent eye operations, six people with hearing problems received hearing aids, and 20 wheelchairs were distributed.
TB screening urged
Dr Stavia Turyahabwe, the Commissioner for Communicable Disease Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, urged communities to embrace disease screening to promote early detection and treatment.
She highlighted the Community Awareness, Screening, Testing and Treatment (CAST) approach, which takes screening and testing services closer to people in their communities.
Dr James Ndyanabo, the coordinator for tuberculosis and leprosy control in the Ankole region, warned that tuberculosis remained a major public health concern.
He said community-based screening had helped health workers identify people who would otherwise not seek medical attention.
“When we started testing people in their villages, we found people who were not attending hospitals. When we introduced TB testing services in the communities, we found people who had TB,” Ndyanabo said.
He said 1,034 sputum samples were tested during a community screening exercise conducted between April and June, with 30 people testing positive for TB.
Ndyanabo urged people with TB symptoms to seek testing early, warning that delayed diagnosis increases the risk of transmission.
Bishop Callistus Rubaramira of Kabale Diocese gives Holy Communion to the newlyweds at St. Claret Catholic Parish, Nyabwina
AMDA tackles community needs
Gumisiriza said Nyabwina was selected to host the caravan after a needs assessment revealed gaps in access to health and education services.
“When we did the assessment, we realised that people in Nyabwina were facing significant challenges in accessing education and health services. It is a remote area, so residents cannot easily access the specialised services that we want to offer,” he said.
He said the caravan was intended to take essential services closer to residents while supporting long-term development in the parish.
During the caravan, AMDA constructed and equipped a computer laboratory at St. Thomas Secondary School in Kigarama Sub-county.
The association also constructed three boreholes at Kyabuharambo Primary School, Ruyonza Primary School and Rwentuuha Primary School.
Women were trained in cake and soap making, while a resource centre equipped with 10 sewing machines and a solar baking oven was established to support women’s economic empowerment.
AMDA also distributed 8,000 tree seedlings to parishioners for planting and trained 120 teachers in the new curriculum.
34 couples wed
The caravan also featured a mass wedding in which 34 couples received the Sacrament of Matrimony at St. Claret Catholic Church, Nyabwina.
The wedding was presided over by Fr Genensio Niwagaba of Mushanga Catholic Parish, who urged the newlyweds to remain faithful to their spouses, love one another and build their families on Christian values.
He encouraged the couples to respect and advise one another, communicate openly and seek forgiveness whenever misunderstandings arise.
“Open dialogue out of concern for mutual love. Don’t deceive each other; help each other and talk openly with the intention of restoring relationships and restoring the oneness of God’s children,” Niwagaba said.
He urged the couples to work together to fulfil God’s will in their marriages.
Couples pose for a group photograph after the mass wedding at St. Claret Catholic Parish, Nyabwina
Leaders commend AMDA
Gordon Nankunda, the head of laity at St. Claret Catholic Parish, thanked AMDA for choosing Nyabwina, saying the intervention would help address challenges faced by residents.
He said low household incomes remained one of the challenges affecting communities in the area.
Nankunda commended AMDA for bringing medical and environmental interventions closer to residents.
Dr Silver Mugisha, the managing director of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation and head of laity for Mbarara Archdiocese, commended AMDA for basing its interventions on a needs assessment.
However, he challenged the association to expand its programmes to reach more parishes.
“If every year you go to one parish, when will you ever finish the more than 60 parishes we have in the archdiocese, which are increasing every day?” Mugisha asked.
He urged AMDA to mobilise more resources and increase its reach.
“The harvests are many, but the manpower is very few. I see power in you, and I am sure with proper motivation you can do much more than what you are doing,” he said.
Mugisha also urged parishioners to support archdiocesan development programmes through the Archdiocese of Mbarara Development Forum (AMDEF).
He said the archdiocese could no longer rely heavily on external donations to fund its programmes.
“We recently received news from our Archbishop that where we had been getting donations, it is over. We shall no longer be getting donations in the archdiocese. Therefore, in order to put our archdiocese on a financially sustainable basis, it is upon us to do it,” Mugisha said.
Sheema North MP Dr Elioda Tumwesigye, who was the guest of honour, commended AMDA for returning to communities to support needy residents.
He particularly praised the association for constructing a computer laboratory at St. Thomas Secondary School, saying it would improve access to computer education among students in the district.
The AMDA Caravan is an annual outreach programme through which the association and its development partners mobilise resources to support communities across the Archdiocese of Mbarara.
The 2026 caravan at St. Claret Catholic Parish focused on healthcare, education, marriage, vocational skills, agriculture, environmental conservation, youth empowerment and other community development programmes.
Torch Media Africa
